Stories by Brock Ormond
Photo- Cole Ellis scored the overtime winner on Wednesday night to help the Wellington Dukes go 2-0 at the OJHL Governor’s Showcase in Niagara Falls. Photo Credit: Jamie Green/OJHL Images
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16- DUKES 3 GEORGETOWN RAIDERS 1
A break of more than a week didn’t seem to rust the Wellington Dukes’ machine.
Zack Carrier notched the winning goal on a powerplay in the second period as the Dukes defeated the Georgetown Raiders 3-1 at the OJHL Governor’s Showcase in Niagara Falls.
After a scoreless, but physical first period, the Dukes got on the board 6:23 into the second when Carrier hit a streaking Sacha Trudel on the rush to finish off his third of the season.
Ethan Murray added the secondary assist.
Carrier’s first of the season was a snapshot from the right faceoff circle past Georgetown goalie James Kamakaris from Blake Berthiaume and Mason Melo.
A late rebound goal from James Wong didn’t deter the Dukes or rookie goalie Royden Smith, who finished with 25 saves for his first OJHL victory in his official debut.
Wellington swarmed the Georgetown end in the third, outshooting the Raiders 21-4 and getting a shorthanded, empty-netter from Kyle Grasby from his own zone to seal the win. Zach Mascard and Vince Albanese picked up the assists.
Overall. the Dukes outshot the Raiders 46-26.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17- DUKES 4 MISSISSAUGA CHARGERS 3 (OT)
The Wellington Dukes got some late game heroics in a 4-3 overtime win on Wednesday over the Mississauga Chargers at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls.
Ethan Murray tied the game with an extra attacker on the ice with only 31 seconds left in regulation, before Cole Ellis won it in overtime on Wednesday night.
Wellington’s scoring came in bunches on this day, as Christian Armstrong and Zack Carrier tallied about a minute apart within the first four minutes to launch the Dukes out to a 2-0 lead.
The Chargers pulled even on markers from Gavin Ramkissoon and Nathan Hiscock before the end of the frame, then took the lead at the 8:19 mark on an Ethan Holt shot through traffic.
Mississauga held onto the advantage until the final minute, when Murray snuck in off the right point and slipped a rebound past Avery Alves for his first of the season.
Then in the extra frame, Ellis started a counterattack after halting a Charger rush, went straight to the net off a pass to Quinn McNamara for a shot and a rebound then cleaned up the mess in front of the Mississauga net on the Dukes only shot of overtime with 32 seconds left in the period.
Zach Mascard had two assists and Murray, Carrier, McNamara, Maxime Morin and Sacha Trudel all had one helper each.
Colby Booth-Housego kept his team in the game with 37 saves on 40 shots for his first OJHL win in his first regular season start.
The Dukes are 3-0 to start the 2025-26 season and will make their first of two visits to Markham for a matchup with the Royals at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
