Don Cherry used to say a 2-0 lead was never safe in hockey. It appears the Wellington Dukes enjoy having them anyway. For the fifth time in five games at the Hasty Ps Cup (presented by Trent Valley Distributors), the Dukes would jump out to a 2-0 lead, with their home ice as the backdrop Friday afternoon.
Former Trenton Golden Hawk Tyler Ignazzitto wasted no time getting his county club on the board. Aaron Brown took the shot from the point, and Ignazzitto tipped the game’s first shot in front of Nick McGowan.
About midway through the frame, James White came bursting across the line and fired it low inside the left post to make it 2-0. It was White’s seventh of the series, assisted by Ben Woodhouse at 9:02.
Trenton responded on the power play, as Kyle Robinson fired a low hard pass, tipped in by former Duke Dalton Bancroft. Nathan Oickle would also get an assist at 11:01.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Dukes’ Ben Woodhouse would take a pass across the ice and had a gaping net. He fired it home to regain a two-goal lead at 11:29. Ben Addison and James White would draw assists. Trenton Goaltender Nic McGowan hurt his shoulder on the play and had to leave with Joe Ranger taking his place.
Trenton has led in the shot totals through the series and they continued to pepper Eli Shiller. It paid off as former Cobourg Cougar Jacob Campbell picked up a loose puck to draw the game back within one. Campbell’s goal came at 15:55 of the first, assisted by Bancroft.
Brannon Butler got called for a penalty late in the period putting Trenton short-handed, however it was the G-Hawks who struck late. With just 16 seconds left in the frame, Wyatt George put through a beautiful pass directed home in front by Griffen Fox.
Final shots in the period were 20-17 in favour of the G-Hawks.
After the roller coaster that was the first 20, the first half of the second turned into a tight checking chess match. The Golden Hawks got leadership from veterans in the second and the G-Hawks took the lead. Andrew Bruder snuck one through the legs of Eli Shiller at 12:22, after several players fought close to the blue paint. Wyatt George and Kyle Robinson drew the assists.
Just over five minutes later, Trenton would add to their lead, as Jacob Campbell knocked home a rebound on the power play. Assists went to Kyle Robinson and Griffen Fox at 17:32.
Five to three is the way the period would end, shots 30-23 after 40.
In the third period, the Wellington Dukes took the momentum, scoring three straight. Barret Joynt got his first of back to backs under the arm of Ranger, to bring them within one. Assists went to Cole McGuire and Jacob Vreugdhenhill. Wellington would tie it at 9:42, and it was Joynt once again. The assists went to Addison, and Kruse.
Ben Woodhouse put Wellington ahead with a beautiful wrap-around beating Ranger’s right side. The goal made it 6-5. Assists went to Ben Addison, and James White at 11:44.
The Dukes were minutes from taking a commanding three wins in the series, however the game would finish like all games in The County so far, in a tie.
Jacob Campbell picked up the hat-trick and his sixth point in the series. Campbell was on his off wing, firing it five-hole through a screen. Brannon Butler and Sam D’Amico drew assists at 14:54.
The game finished 6-6, with shots favouring 39-32 Trenton.
Wellington Coach Derek Smith says, “momentum has been everything in the series. I am sure both teams and their coaching staff were pulling their hair out at times. We showed a lot of resiliency coming back in the third. The guys stayed positive. It is a good testament to our players to be able to come out of the game with a tie.”
Trenton bench boss Peter Goulet seemed frustrated with the poor starts his team has had in the series. “For five games in a row we have gone down 2-0. In this game we trailed 2-0, 3-1, 6-5, and at least we found a way to leave Wellington with a point. Ties will not do us any good anymore. We are running out of time, and we need to start putting wins on the board. The next two games are in our barn, and we need to take advantage of that.”
“We are glad to get a point out of the game. We must move on and look forward to the next three games. They are do or die. We need to win them, simple as that”, said G-Hawks forward Jacob Campbell.
Ben Addison of the Dukes commented on the momentum of the series. “Every time these two teams play, it is at high intensity. We must string solid shifts together and make sure we do not try to do too much. For the next two games in Trenton, it is a smaller barn, so we need to make decisions more quickly. With our speed, it will be a benefit. We will be able to get on their D and force them to make mistakes, and turnovers.”
The Dukes lead the points series 7-3, with the next two games slated for Quinte West Wednesday (the 25th) and Friday (the 27th), before game eight back in Wellington (Dec. 2). Six points are still up for grabs meaning either team can still win the series. If Wellington wins one more game, they will claim the first ever Hasty Ps Cup. If the series is tied after the eight regulation games, the final game will go to sudden death overtime.
All games can be seen on YourTV (Cogeco 4/700)
