Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: OJHL Images/Wellington Dukes
After some early nerves, the Wellington Dukes got on cruise control with an explosive final two periods in an 11-1 rout of the North York Rangers on Friday night.
The Rangers, sitting last in wins and points in the OJHL, played up to the 4th place Dukes with strong forechecking and a good goaltending effort from Noah Blitstein.
The game was scoreless until the Dukes struck twice in 34 seconds through Alex Hendry and Quinn McNamara goals.
The Rangers got one back on a partial breakaway tally from Luca Spano, but the Dukes were not about to allow the visitors to get any closer.
Cory Jewitt glanced in a powerplay goal, Jared McNeil broke away for a shorthanded tally and Ryan Schaap ripped his patented wrist shot top shelf to knock the water bottle off the top of North York’s net to break the game open to 5-1.
The Wellington train didn’t slow down in the third, with Schaap, McNamara and Jewitt each scoring their second of the game, Vince Albanese cashing in his first OJHL goal and first as a Duke, and Kyle Kavc and Ethan Murray putting one home as well.
Jewitt and Schaap finished with four-point games and Ryan Castle notched four assists. Zander Latreille added three helpers and Dario Cantini stopped 24 in Wellington’s 27th win of the season.
The Dukes finish the weekend on Sunday as they are paid a visit from the St. Michael’s Buzzers at 2:30 p.m.