The losses continue to mount for the Wellington Dukes both on and off the ice.

After winning five in a row to kick off the month of October, the locals are losers in three striaght, thier latest setback coming Wednesday night at home against Markham.

But worse than the losses on the ice, the club’s star goalkeeper Jack Lisson left Prince Edward County for the temperate climes of West Kelowna. Mr. Lisson was lured away from Wellington to ply his trade for the Golden Knights of the British Columbia Hockey League and for those unaware, that loop now operates outside the auspices of Hockey Canada.

So if you’re a Wellington fan thinking the club might get some kind of return in exchange for Mr. Lisson’s departure, you can stop holding your breath. There won’t to be any players or cash coming Wellington’s way for this defection.

Even worse than that, rumours around the rink indicate other BCHL teams are sniffing around current Dukes, wondering if they might like to join their former teammate for some Left Coast living while they play hockey.

Battle Royale

At home for a rare Wednesday night contest, the Markham Royals managed to get the jump on Wellington with a pair of goals in the first period. After a scoreless second, Owen Ibbotson would fire a shorthanded tally past Dukes starter and new comer Dario Cantini formerly of the Maritime Junior Hockey League early in the final stanza.

Wellington’s Riley Noble and Quinn MacNamara scored in the third to make it a one goal game but the Royals trumped Wellington with a pair of empty netters that made the final 5-2.

On Saturday, the home side Aurora Tigers fired three goals in the opening ten minutes past Dukes starter Noah Davis and the club never recovered in a 6-3 loss.

Nolan Hendry scored his first goal as a Wellington Duke while Zach Mascard and Ethan Murray also lit the lamp for Wellington.

The Comeback

The first edition of the Battle of Quinte Friday night had an interesting wrinkle although the game ended up as a 5-3 loss for Wellington. The host Trenton Golden Hawks may be without starting netminder and former Picton Pirate Brady Spry for a while as the Belleville native works out a hip issue.

In his place, the Golden Hawks called upon current Picton Pirates keeper Nolan Lane. The Wellington native started last season with his home town Dukes but was shipped off after winning his first four starts.

While Mr. Lane began the game on the bench, he was called upon to relieve Trenton’s Sawyer Russell. With his team up 3-2, Mr. Lane did surrender the tying goal to Jared McNeil at 10:31 of the second stanza. But the Golden Hawks went ahead to stay when former Duke Cooper Matthews fired a powerplay goal at the 13:07 mark.

Mr. Lane would make a breakaway save in the third to preserve a Trenton lead and one time Wellington skater Corbin Roach set up an empty netter for his second helper of the contest.

Mr. Lane picked up his fifth OJHL win in the contest. For the record, he has yet to lose a game in this league.

The Dukes will try to get off the slide on Friday when they head to Pickering to play the Panthers.

Pirates drubbed twice

In Provincial Junior Hockey League action, the Picton Pirates have struggled mightily as of late at both ends of the ice. The Bucs have been outscored 17-1 in their last two games. They can’t muster much offence and pucks seem to be flying into their net.

On Thursday, the visiting Frankford Huskies ran roughshod over the hosts in an 8-1 loss. Colby Leaver finally broke Liam Boyer’s shutout bid with under ten minutes to go in the third for Picton’s very lone bright spot on a disappointing outing.

Joey Coates fired a hat trick for the Pups while Rylan Reid, Avery Wease, Jakob Gardiner, Brandon Mann and Tyson Carr had singles.

On Sunday, Amherstview Jets scored three goals a period to blow out the visiting Pirates 9-0 Brad Wilson had a pair of tallies while Thomas Elkins, Colby Cross and Andrew White all lit the lamp.

Picton plays at home for a rare Saturday afternoon affair at Huff Estates Arena. Puck drop is 3 p.m.