Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: Wellington Dukes/OJHL Images
A resilient comeback effort fell a little short for the Wellington Dukes on Friday night.
Four unanswered third period goals pushed the Burlington Cougars to the brink, but the home team ultimately hung on for a 6-5 victory.
The Dukes were burned by a nightmarish stretch late in the second period, when the Cougars scored four times in the span of 1:19, chasing starter Jack Lisson in the process and just couldn’t quite claw back, despite their best efforts.
The two teams emerged from the first period tied at one, with Aurora, Ont. native Jared McNeil converting his first OJHL goal from Logan Sitlani and Cooper Reid on a powerplay at the 9:25 mark.
Evan Dantas answered more than a minute later for Burlington.
OJHL veteran Peter Kioussis tapped in the go-ahead marker for the Cougars at 7:42 of the second before the floodgates opened.
Noah Garthe, Blake Power and Mathieu McMillan all scored to knock Lisson out of the game in favour of Gabe Donohue and then Jack Churchill victimized the young netminder just 25 seconds after the changeover.
A slew-footing double minor to Ryan Gagner gave Wellington some hope, with Ryan Schaap and Ethan Murray (first OJHL goal) both scoring to cut the Burlington lead down to three.
McNeil buried his second of the game and the season with 4:40 to go to make it 6-4 before captain Cory Jewitt set Murray up for his second with less than two minutes remaining, to queue a furious ending.
That push ultimately ended without the tying marker, dropping wellington to 2-2 on the season.
McNeill led the way offensively with three points, with Schaap, Jewitt and Reid adding two each.
Donohue ended with 19 saves on 20 shots in a great relief performance.
The Dukes have little time to reflect as they get back to action in Oakville against the Blades Saturday night at 7 p.m.
