After tasting defeat for the first time in 2024 in Trenton on Friday, the Wellington Dukes bounced back for a clutch win over the Haliburton Huskies on Sunday.

In a tense back-and-forth affair that saw the Dukes pull away from the Pups three times, Wellington netminder Jack Lisson had the last laugh, making 14 saves over the final 19 minutes of play to keep his team ahead when the final buzzer sounded.

With the split of the weekend, Wellington closed out their winningest month of action in the 2023-24 Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign, posting a 5-1-0 record.

Wellington started off like a house on fire with Connor Hunt serving as the offensive catalyst. The Centre Hastings native would fire home the games first goal at 1:40 and then set up both Corey Jewitt and Pana Efraimidis both on the power play to give the hosts a three goal margin to work with 15 minutes into the contest.

But the Huskies bit back with a couple of goals in the final five minutes of the first to make it a one goal lead at the close of the frame.

Patrick Saini’s second of the contest just 29 seconds into the second squared the affair at 3-3 but Sacha Trudel’s seventh of the season at 12:21 would restore Wellington’s one goal cushion as the teams headed off for the second intermission.

Wellington’s MacDonald comes up clutch

Early in the third, Haliburton would draw even a third time as Ian Philips tallied just 63 seconds into the period.

That tie didn’t last long however as Caleb MacDonald third goal of the year beat former OHLer Brett Fullerton just 18 seconds after the Haliburton eqaulizer.

Mr. MacDonald’s effort was just enough as Wellington skated off with a 5-4 win and pushed their overall record to 28-16-2.

On Friday, the Dukes weren’t able to get on track versus the Golden Hawks and fell 4-1.

Down 4-0, Ryan Schaap’s 21st of the season at the 16:45 mark of the second was the lone bright spot for the Dukes.

Former Dukes farmhand and Picton Pirate Brady Spry made 26 saves for the Golden Hawks.

Wellington plays a rare Thursday night at home on Feb. 1 as they host the moribund North York Rangers who were pasted in Trenton 11-0 Sunday. Following that contest, The Dukes are in Cobourg on Monday, Feb. 5.