By Brock Ormond/ Wellington Dukes
Photo: Wellington Dukes/OJHL Images
Oct 19, 2024
A thrilling ending to a game of momentum runs saw the Wellington Dukes come out on top on Friday night.
Captain Cory Jewitt came through in the clutch again, assisting on a tying marker with 24 seconds left in regulation and stealing the puck away for a clean break and a game-winner in double overtime to stun the Stouffville Spirit 5-4.
Wellington had a 3-1 lead through two periods of play, scoring three unanswered markers after allowing the first goal from Stouffville’s David Paglia.
Ryan Schaap whipped a laser shot off the right wing past Spirit goalie Kyle Downey to knot the score at one apiece late in the first, before Zack Carrier took over in the second with back-to-back tallies three-and-a-half minutes apart on a pair of dekes.
Stouffville came on in a big way in the third however, getting three straight of their own, two off the stick of Evan Breckles and one shorthanded from Lachlan Wells.
The Dukes pressed for the equalizer as the clock dwindled down and finally caught a break in the final minute, when Jewitt centered a pass off a Stouffville skate that laid loose in front for McNeil to jam in for his sixth of the year.
After Wellington got the first point, and got chances in both overtime frames, Jewitt went in on the attack, swiping the disc from Breckles at the Spirit blueline and going in all alone to beat Downey upstairs with 43 seconds left in the second OT and bank a second point for the Dukes.
That heroic tally extended Jewitt’s goal scoring streak to five games.
Carrier led all Dukes in points with three (two goals, one assist), with other helpers going to Sacha Trudel (2), Alex Hendry, Tyler Tsoukalas and Ben Vreugdenhil.
Jack Lisson held his own with 26 saves to help Wellington win its fourth game in a row. Stouffville outshot the Dukes 30-28.
The County club is now 8-5 on the season and will look to continue to scale the standings with another victory on Sunday at 2 p.m. versus the St. Michael’s Buzzers at St. Mike’s College Arena.