Dukes victimized by late Huskies surge

Story by Brock Ormond

Photo: Ed McPherson/OJHL Images

The Wellington Dukes were pressed by a strong defensive performance and an outstanding third period by the Haliburton County Huskies in a 3-1 defeat on Friday night.

All three of the Huskies goals came in the final frame, capped off by one of hockey rarest achievements – a goalie goal – from Brett Fullerton.

The 19-year-old made 31 stops to go along with his goal and kept his team in the game when they only mustered 10 shots in the first 40 minutes of action.

The Dukes outshot the Huskies 12-4 in the first before getting the teddy bears flying at 6:12 of the second period on Will Whelton’s long high shot that beat a screened Fullerton.

Nick DiPaolo and Logan Sitlani assisted on the Dukes captain’s second of the season.

That was to be the Huskies only blemish and they came out flying in the third to cut the shot count down on Wellington, eventually breaking through when Jack Staniland spun off a Wellington check and set Lucas Stevenson up for the tying marker with more than nine minutes left in the period.

The game seemed destined for overtime until Antonio Cerqua buried the game-winner in the final three-and-a-half minutes, setting the stage for the goaltender to ice it.

Wellington outshot Haliburton 32-25, but the Huskies poured 15 chances on Jack Lisson in the third. The Oakville native made 22 stops in the defeat.

The Dukes visit the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at 7:15 p.m. Sunday.