Prior to the start of Game 8 of the Hasty Ps Cup (Presented by Trent Valley Distributors), Wellington Dukes President Doug Robinson was chatting with Trenton Golden Hawks Coach Peter Goulet and commented, “Imagine if we could have had fans in the stands for this hockey!” Robinson was bang on. The final games of the head to head COVID battle would most assuredly have been packed. Then again, the series never would have been constructed without the pandemic.
Wellington and Trenton are known as the Battle of Quinte, the Fight for Highway 33, or the best rivalry in the OJHL. It would come down to another thrilling final. Game 8 of the series went Wednesday afternoon at the Lehigh Arena in Prince Edward County.
To the 1st period we go, where both teams started with high intensity, and quick changes. Both sides were fresh, as they had not played since Friday. The G-Hawks’ Andrew Bruder looked like he would be done for the game, after a collision in the Dukes zone, however when he did come back, he made it count. Bruder accepted a wall pass from Dalton Bancroft directly in front of Eli Shiller. Bruder tipped it in blocker side to start the game 1-0, at 10:38.
After a Dalton Bancroft high sticking penalty, the Dukes went to the power play. The G-Hawks blocked the point shot and Aaron Jamieson was sent the other way alone. Jamieson fired it high blocker side to go up 2-0. It was unassisted at 13:03. Shots finished 14-11 at the end of the period.
Into the 2nd where the Dukes did not wait long to get on the board. Great puck movement around the outside on the power play, and it was Ben Woodhouse firing a hard wrister through a screen, beating Joe Ranger blocker side, just as the man advantage ended. It was Woodhouse’s 5th of the series, with assists going to Evan Miller and Ben Addison, at 2:45. It was the Dukes first goal, since the 3rd period of Game 5 on November 20. Over 151 minutes between goals, and the last marker was also Ben Woodhouse.
Trenton would go to a power play of its own, after James Woods was sent off for interference. Brannon Butler would receive a pass back at the point from Wyatt George and he fired it into traffic. Aaron Jamieson tipped the shot past Shiller at 6:45. That gave Trenton their two-goal lead once again.
The Dukes’ Tyler McBay was sent to the box for a 5-minute major for body checking, and Aaron Brown went off for high sticking, giving Trenton a 5 on 3. Andrew Bruder would strike again, using the extra ice to cut into the slot, and fire it high blocker side. Assists went to Aaron Jamieson, and Wyatt George at 8:46.
Wellington would not take it lying down. Three strong shifts in a row, and knowing their own boards worked to their advantage. Ben Woodhouse took the puck off the back boards, following a Ben Hamilton wrister. It was Woodhouse’s 2nd of the game. The goal came at 14:18 of the period. Trenton took a 4-2 lead into the dressing room. Shots in the 2nd finished 13-4 for the G-Hawks.
Wellinton came out of the intermission, on a mission. Cole McGuire tipped home the Ben Woodhouse shot, with James White also getting an assist, at 12:44.
Trenton would respond however, as Andrew Bruder would collect his hat trick, with assists going to Wyatt George and Aaron Jamieson at 18:06. They would add an empty netter from Captain Griffen Fox, and a helper going to Dalton Bancroft at 18:37. The final was 6-3.
The G-Hawks surrounded goaltender Joe Ranger to celebrate the win. The trophy honours the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment. Chris Auger of Trent Valley Distributors (Series Title Sponsor) handed over the hardware to Griffen Fox.
Fox says, “We were never worried when we were trailing the series 7-3 (points). With a series this long, you have to stay confident in your ability and we knew all along we had a chance. When you play Wellington, games are always up and down. It was great to come back and get the cup.”
Dukes Captain Ben Woodhouse was a powerhouse in the final game, and in the series. He notched 3 points in Game 8, and 15 points across the series. He discussed the uniqueness of the series, and of COVID hockey. “It is not a regular season, and each day needs to be a grind. You must keep working and preparing yourself to get better. A series like this is only going to add fuel to the fire in the Trenton/Wellington rivalry. I talked with our coaching staff and they agreed that this is only going to add more tension between the two clubs. It has always been there, and it will continue to boil over.”
His Coach Derek Smith commented following the series end. “We are looking forward to playing another team (jokingly). This has been a different season, and we have to look at approaching things in a new way. We brought in some great veterans over the last few months and we also have some good young players. The result was not what we wanted, but our development has been strong. I am happy with how the guys have come along.”
Peter Goulet talked about how his team had to win the last three games of the series to take the trophy. “When we left Wellington after Game 5, we were down 7-3 in points. The guys never quit. We had confidence all through the series, we believed in ourselves and what we were doing. Joe Ranger got better and better as the series went on and made a huge difference. I am proud of them.”
Forward Aaron Jamieson had a 4-point afternoon and said work and bounces combined for a good day. “I have never played in an exhibition game that has meant so much. It was a combination of the importance of the game and the hype around the series. The puck kept going the right way for me, and it ended in a fortunate result.”
Andrew Bruder brought his best game of the series, notching three goals. “It is exciting. With COVID you never know whether this is the last hockey we will get to play. It is nice to treat a series like the playoffs, and to win the Hasty Ps Cup is pretty cool.”
Series Title Sponsor Chris Auger is a former Wellington Duke, and owner of Trent Valley Distributors. “That battle is very much alive. The series was the talk of the community. A lot of customers that came into TVD were talking about it. The support in the Quinte area for these two teams is tremendous. For TVD to be a part of it was great, and it is something that we hope will continue for years to come.”
