For the second straight season the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Buckland Cup trophy was handed out in Wellington, but this time it was the visitors holding it high.
The Oakville Blades swept the Wellington Dukes 4-0 in the championship series, capping their title with a 3-2 win, on Thursday night.
Wellington was playing without its top goal scorer after Andrew Rinaldi was ejected in game two and suspended seven games, but still managed to get on the board first.
Second-leading point-getter Tyson Gilmour tipped home a point shot at 14:34 of the first period giving Wellington some momentum.
But as they did after allowing the first goal in Wellington back in game two, Oakville stormed back with three straight goals of their own.
Gilmour’s former Powassan Voodoos teammate Harrison Israels redirected a shot of his own on the power play, at 5:17 of the second, before scoring his second of the game at 2:29 of the third on a shot from the near circle.
Garrett Pyke would hammer home a power play slap shot about a minute later to make it 3-1 Blades.
The Dukes showed some life later in the third, with Elijah Gonsalves making it 3-2 at 14:48 on the power play, but Wellington ran out of time and firepower, against the third ranked team in the country.
The Oakville Blades celebrate their OJHL Buckland Cup Championship after beating the Wellington Dukes at LeHigh Arena in Wellington, on April 18, 2019. (Photo: Tim Bates / OJHL Images)
Dukes coach John Druce tells Quinte News despite the result and not being able to repeat as champions, his team put forward an incredible effort throughout the season.
And he says, with a pile of players eligible to return, there are plenty of lessons to be learned moving forward.
He also again credited the fans in Wellington and The County in general for their support of the team throughout the season.
The Dukes players will hold exit meetings with staff and management before heading home for the summer, while Oakville will prepare to travel to Cochrane, Ontario and represent the OJHL at the Dudley Hewitt Cup.
They’ll face the host Cochrane Crunch, along with champions from the NOJHL (Hearst Lumberjacks or Soo Thunderbirds) and the CCHL (Ottawa Junior Senators or Carleton Place Canadians) in the Central Canadian Championship Tournament.
You can click here to read the box score from Thursday night.
