Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: OJHL Images/Wellington Dukes
For the second time in less than a week, Stouffville Arena was the site of an offensive shootout involving a Quinte-area team.
After the Trenton Golden Hawks outgunned the Stouffville Spirit 8-6 on Sunday, the Wellington Dukes came out on the other side of a 7-6 double overtime decision to the Spirit on Thursday afternoon.
Wellington trailed 5-1 at one point in the game before rattling off five unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead.
With less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, Riley Pope tied the game and completed a hat trick, before notching his fourth of the game
The Dukes were led offensively by Cory Jewitt (goal, two assists), Ryan Schaap and Ben Vreugdenhil (goal, assist each) and Carson Littlejohn (three assists).
Jared McNeil, Zennon Edwards and Kyle Kavc also scored for Wellington in the loss.
The Dukes picked up a point, but are now only three up on Stouffville for fourth in the East Conference with one game in hand, making this Spirit win a crucial one.
Final shots favoured Stouffville 42-33.
After being swamped the last couple of games, the Dukes will look to turn their game back on the winning track to start February with a home game at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday versus the Lindsay Muskies.