Story by Brock Ormond

Photo: Spencer Smye/OJHL Images

A spirited effort in all facets of the game helped the Wellington Dukes win their 10th straight game Friday night.

Matt Dunsmoor made 20 saves for his second shutout of the season as the Dukes skunked the Toronto Jr. Canadiens 4-0 at Lehigh Arena.

The game’s script may have been written in the opening minute, when Jr. Canadiens captain Matthew O’Brien took out Dukes forward Justin Paul in a knee-on-knee collision that earned him a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.

Wellington struck while the iron was hot, scoring twice on that lengthy man-advantage. James White did some excellent work to separate himself from his checker at centre ice, got into the Toronto zone and found Woodhouse streaking through the middle.

The Hamilton, Ont. native toe-dragged the puck and shot it blocker-side to beat Jr. Canadiens goaltender Christian Mattiace for his 12th of the season. Quinn Hanna drew the second assist at 4:07.

In the final seconds of the major powerplay, Ryan Smith utilized his outstanding faceoff skills to win a clean draw to line up Dawson Ellis for a shot, which he buried low on Mattiace for his 13th of the year at 5:51.

The Dukes continued to dominate possession and limit a strong Jr. Canadiens offence to barely a whisper in their end, while physically punishing them for much of the last two periods.Dylan Massie jammed in his 15th goal of the year in the last minute of the frame after Mattiace bobbled a Hanna wrister from the offensive blueline to extend the lead.

Frank Vitucci finished the scoring by raising his team-leading goal total one notch to 36, one-timing an Evan Miller set-up through Mattiace. Jake Gagnon continued to stay up near the top of Wellington’s point-scoring list with his 64th point and 35th helper.

Toronto got surly near the end of the game, seeing two more players get ejected from the game, including one for an “intent to injure” match penalty for a blindside hit on Wellington’s James White.

When the dust settled however, it was Wellington skating away with its 10th straight victory and adding to its record of 40-9-2-0.

The Dukes 82 points keeps them one up on the Trenton Golden Hawks for the first-place position in the East Division and the OJHL, as Trenton won in overtime Friday.

Next action for Wellington is a Family Day Monday contest against the Cobourg Cougars on the road.