Story by Brock Ormond

Photo Courtesy: Ed McPherson, OJHL Images

The Wellington Dukes may have lost on Friday night, but their effort was strong against one of the best teams in the OJHL - and in Canada.

The County kids took it to the North York Rangers for much of the game, but eventually fell down in defeat on a late goal by Ross Krieger and dropped a 4-2 decision.

The Rangers, who have a sizable hold on first place in the South Division and easily handled Wellington in a game earlier this season, attempted to intimidate the Dukes with their physicality early on. The Dukes managed to keep up with the Rangers though and thanks to some brilliant goaltending from Olivier Lafreniere, kept a dangerous offensive team at bay. Jett Alexander, originally from Bloomfield, made his homecoming to Lehigh Arena and was steady as well through the first period as the game remained scoreless heading into period two.

North York broke the ice over two minutes into the middle frame on an Aidan Casey wrist shot that beat Lafreniere cleanly on the blocker side. The Dukes didn't quit and eventually answered on a powerplay at 9:23. After coming close a couple times earlier in the shift, Andrew Rinaldi eventually received a pass from behind the Rangers net courtesy of Tyson Gilmour and stuffed the puck through the legs of Alexander for his 19th goal of the year to tie the score. Tim Fallowfield drew the second assist in his first home game back after an injury suffered earlier in the month. Ryan Radisa put the Rangers back ahead a few minutes later when he tapped in a Ashton Stockie feed just past the outstretched left leg of Lafreniere. In the final minute of the period, the Dukes got a fortunate bounce off a Rangers leg to tie the game. Following a faceoff in the offensive zone, Gilmour went to pass the puck out in front, only to have it deflect in for his 10th of the season. Elijah Gonsalves picked up the only helper. 

Neither team budged in a tight-checking third period until with five minutes and change to play. Krieger dug a loose puck out off a scramble draw and beat a partially screened Lafreniere upstairs to put North York out in front once again. Despite a Wellington push at the end, the Rangers effectively locked the defensive end down and a Joey Maziarz empty netter in the final minute salted away the victory for the visitors.

North York outshot Wellington 39-31, with Alexander taking away the win from his old hometown club just two days before heading off to Team Canada East camp for the World Junior A Challenge, stopping 29 shots. Even though Lafreniere was tagged with the loss, his performance was worthy of praise, as he turned aside 35 Ranger shots, most of them from close areas.

Wellington falls to 15-13-1-2 with the loss and remains in fourth place in the East division. The next game for Wellington is a big one - Round 4 of the Battle of Quinte in Quinte West against the Trenton Golden Hawks at 7 p.m. Sunday.