DRYDEN, ON – MAY 4: Alexander Erwin #17 of the Thunder Bay North Stars makes the hit on Mitchell Mendonca #27 of the Wellington Dukes in the second period during Game Seven – Semi Final of the Central Canadian Junior Championship during the 2018 Dudley Hewitt Cup on May 4, 2018 at the Dryden Memorial Arena in Dryden, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tim Bates/DHC via OJHL Images)
The Wellington Dukes have won the OJHL Buckland Cup three times including this year and the previous two times, they went on to win the Dudley Hewitt Cup as well.
They’ll look to continue that pattern on Saturday night, when they tangle with the Dudley Hewitt Cup host Dryden Ice Dogs in the tournament final.
Wellington had goals from six different scorers on Friday night, to knock off the Thunder Bay North Stars 6-3 in the semi final.
Thunder Bay took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Wellington stormed back with four goals in the second period.
Nelson Powers, Declan Carlile, Frankie Pucci and Mitch Mendonca all scored for the Dukes, to give them a bit of a cushion heading into the third.
But Thunder Bay came flying out of the gate in the final frame counting two goals within the first three minutes of the period to cut the lead to one.
Bryce Yetman gave Wellington some insurance at about the midway point, finishing off a nice passing play from Carlile and Zach Uens.
Jackson Arcan would count an empty netter from the neutral zone to make it 6-3.
Wellington was able to hold off a couple of Thunder Bay power plays and had some timely goaltending, as they have all season from Jonah Capriotti as well.
DRYDEN, ON – MAY 3: Jonah Capriotti #30 of the Wellington Dukes makes the save during Game Five of the Central Canadian Junior Championship during the 2018 Dudley Hewitt Cup on May 3, 2018 at the Dryden Memorial Arena in Dryden, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tim Bates/DHC via OJHL Images)
The Dukes and Ice Dogs met in the tournament opener with Dryden picking up the 4-1 win, but both teams finished the round robin with two wins and one loss each.
Gametime is 8:30 p.m. eastern time on Saturday and Dukes fans can watch the game live at the Wellington and District Community Centre.
If Wellington wins, they’ll move on to the RBC Cup national championship, May 12-20 in Chilliwack, BC.
DRYDEN, ON – MAY 1: Dakotah Woods #20 of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs battles for position with Colin Doyle #17 of the Wellington Dukes during Game Two of the Central Canadian Junior Championship during the 2018 Dudley Hewitt Cup on May 1, 2018 at the Dryden Memorial Arena in Dryden, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tim Bates/DHC via OJHL Images)
