Mulder’s first OJHL goal stands as winner in gutsy Dukes victory over #1 Royals | InQuinte.ca
×
Today's latest storiesMulder's first OJHL goal stands as winner in gutsy Dukes victory over #1 RoyalsHawks stormed by Hurricanes SaturdaySens come up short in OT for second straight gameHoliday giving initiative gives Northumberland Seniors a bright and happy holiday seasonHawks cut down by RaidersFour unanswered goals help Dukes down 'Fish'Sens can't hold on, fizzle out in overtime versus RocketHouse fire in east end BellevilleStructure fire on Point Anne RoadContraband and unauthorized items seized at Collins Bay InstitutionCandidate Profile - Belleville Council Candidate Ward 1 - Cadi PontinenCandidate Profile - Prince Edward County Council Candidate Ward 8 - Ken MortonHydro One planned power outage in Napanee Sunday, delayed for north-east of BellevilleIntimate partner violence investigation results in cocaine being found in Quinte WestOPP find cash and drug paraphernalia in BrightonRural fleet upgrades aided by federal fundingCandidate Profile - Belleville Council Candidate Ward Two (Belleville) - Aaron FaganSchool bus driver faces impaired charges in TweedFrightening incident results in charges for 14-year-oldLancers swing doors open to new sporting era

Mulder’s first OJHL goal stands as winner in gutsy Dukes victory over #1 Royals

By Brock Ormond Oct 18, 2026 | 11:13 PM

Photo: OJHL Images/Wellington Dukes

A battle of wills between the top two teams in the East was waged on Sunday night at the Duke Dome and it was the upstarts from Wellington that emerged victorious.

Cole Mulder slid home his own rebound for his first OJHL goal and the game-winner late in the third to help the Dukes pull out a thrilling 5-4 victory over the #1 seed Markham Royals.

The 6-5, 230-pound defenceman’s clutch goal came with 5:26 left in the third and was the catalyst to giving Wellington its 10th victory of the season and handing Markham just its third defeat of the still young season.

Markham controlled the bulk of the first period, but the Dukes managed to come out of the frame tied thanks to a Jayden Levesque shorthanded goal while falling forward, evened by a Chance Adams equalizer.

Landen Anderson cracked home his first OJHL goal on a rebound opportunity and Landon Marleau started off a three-point night with a strike off a faceoff less than a minute later to give Wellington a multi-goal lead.

Markham’s high-powered offence kicked into another gear as the period went on, scoring three unanswered through Dylan Charnley, Yegor Staiko and Athan Miwa to take a 4-3 lead into the break.

Zach Mascard’s dogged forechecking enabled a turnover that led to a slick finish for his team and league-leading 15th of the year to even the score at four at the halfway mark of the third, setting the stage for Mulder’s winner.

The Dukes defenceman took a handoff from Blake Berthiaume and drove the net, getting stopped by Jacob Ceranic with the paddle, before stuffing home the second try for the big winner.

Wellington warded off Markham’s late desperation attack to claim the win, goaltender Mason Raycroft’s first in the OJHL with a 27-save effort.

This gutsy, gratifying win is another positive step on the road back to the Buckland Cup Playoffs for the Dukes, who will gun for another important two points in Cobourg Monday night at 7 p.m.