VREUGDENHIL HAT TRICK, OT WINNER HELPS DUKES OUTSHOOT ADMIRALS

Story by Brock Ormond

Photo: OJHL Images/Wellington Dukes

The Wellington Dukes got involved in a wild game on Sunday afternoon.

The fans were treated to an offensive show at the team’s first annual Every Child Matters game, with the Dukes pulling out an 8-7 double overtime win over the Admirals to take over second place in the OJHL’s Southeast Conference.

The two teams emerged tied from the first period with Jacob Vreugdenhil scoring the first of his three goals in response to Evin Kojkaro’s game opener.

Tallies from Vreugdenhil, Barret Joynt, Ryan Cutler and David Campbell sandwiched between an Owen Norman marker to give Wellington a 5-2 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

The Admirals, who had been outscored 28-2 in the three previous meeting with Wellington this season, shot out of a cannon in the third, scoring five times around two Dukes markers from Joynt and Matheson Mason to force OT.

After the first extra session passed by without any scoring, Vreugdenhil took a pass from Julien Jacob and snuck it past Admirals goalie Antonino Rizzo to complete the hat trick and give Wellington the victory.

Despite the loss, Caledon was full value in earning its 21st point of the season.

The Dukes improve to 34-11-3-2 with 73 points on the season after the winning weekend and will visit the Lindsay Muskies for the first of two remaining games in the regular season Friday at 7 p.m.