Dukes push hard against top-flight Patriots in home loss | InQuinte.ca
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Dukes push hard against top-flight Patriots in home loss

By Brock Ormond Feb 21, 2026 | 12:02 AM

A strong effort was put forward by the Wellington Dukes against the #1 team in the OJHL on Friday night.

The Toronto Patriots were simply too strong and too deep for the Dukes, coming away with a 7-4 victory at Lehigh Arena.

Wellington stuck close for a long while, getting out of the first period tied at two thanks to a snipe from Cole Ellis (10th of the season) and a shot that seeped through the pads of Patriots goalie Trey Caracciolo for Liam Campbell (25th), worked around back-to-back powerplay tallies from Hudson Cummins and Anthony Giacalone.

Both teams went hit for hit in the second as well, with Wellington answering a Cole Cooksey goal in the first minute through Will Mitchell, who banked a pass intended for Zach Mascard off a Toronto skate past Caracciolo at 5:29.

The Pats retook the lead on a Luciano Bruno goal halfway through the frame, kickstarting a four-goal binge that bled through the third.

Cummins, Bruno, and Tommy Karmiris all cashed in for Toronto in the final frame to put the Dukes away.

Aiden Lee did manage to score a dandy before the night was out, sneaking through the Pats defence and beating Caracciolo on a great individual effort to close the scoring and complete a two-point game.

Mitchell also added a goal and a helper, with single assists to Mascard, Ethan Fredericks, Sacha Trudel, Evan Erwin, Landon Marleau and Cain Tucker.

Dryden Riley was busy making 40 stops as Wellington was overwhelmed in shots 47-24.

The Dukes fall to 25-18-4-5, remaining five points up on St. Mike’s for sixth with four games left ahead of a potential first round postseason preview with the Pickering Panthers at 7:30 p.m.