Three unanswered goals in the first period paced the Wellington Dukes to a 5-3 win over the visiting Trenton Golden Hawks in Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday night at Lehigh Arena.
It was the fifth of the eight-game Hasty P’s Cup series between the Dukes and Golden Hawks. Wellington lost the first two regular season match-ups against their local rival, but have answered back with three straight victories.
Corbin Roach, Will Mitchell and Barret Joynt tallied the first period goals Friday night. Trenton twice cut the deficit to one in the contest, including goals by Aiden MacIntosh and Devin Mauro in the second.
Jacob Vreugdenhil restored the two-goal advantage for the Dukes with just over a minute to play in the middle frame. Austin D’Orazio got one back for the Golden Hawks nine minutes into the third before Emmet Pierce secured the Wellington win with an empty net goal in the final minute of play.
Pierce also had two assists in the victory to lead the way with three points.
Only two penalties were assessed in the game, but both clubs capitalized on their man-advantage opportunities with Joynt and Mauro providing the power-play markers.
Dukes goaltender Ethan Morrow made 34 saves in the win while Ethan Taylor turned aside 29 of the 33 shots he faced in a losing cause for the Golden Hawks.
Trenton (26-10-0-2) is back in action Saturday afternoon at 4:30 in Minden to take on the Haliburton County Huskies (22-13-1-4).
On Sunday, the Dukes (23-12-0-3) will the Cobourg Cougars (20-16-1-3). Game time is 2:30 p.m.
HASTY P’S CUP REVISED SCHEDULE
(Dukes lead 3-2)
Friday, Oct. 15: Trenton 7 Wellington 4
Sunday, Oct. 31: Trenton 5 Wellington 3
Friday, Nov. 12: Wellington 6 Trenton 3
Sunday, Dec. 12: Wellington 4 Trenton 1
Friday, Feb. 25: Wellington 5 Trenton 3
Saturday, March 5: Wellington at Trenton, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 13: Wellington at Trenton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 1: Trenton at Wellington, 7:30 p.m.