The South champion Markham Waxers, showed, once again, that they are impervious to any kind of intimidation.

When they played the defending South champ St. Michael's Buzzers, there were few people who gave them a a chance to win that series. Particularly so, when they were beaten by back to back scores of 4-1 to fall behind the Buzzers 2-1 in their series.

But they roared back and beat the Buzz in six games.

For all the hype about how good this Wellington Duke team is this year, the intimidating component of playing at the Dukedome for visitors and the much publicized fact of a Duke nine straight 2008 playoff wins, the Waxers simply went about their business.

They had nothing of Southernsmoke and his contention who put Wellington's well-rounded team this way:
"1) Wellington has goaltending
2) Wellingtons defense plays defense and offense
3) Wellington has more than 2 that produce regularly."

The Wax rolled into Dukedom on Easter Sunday and left the Dukes laying an egg, an Easter one, with a convincing 5-2 win.

The win may well have silenced the Duke hecklers who were quick to make light of the Waxers after Wellington's game one win.

For the first time since game three of the East playoff series with the Bowmanville Eagles, the Dukes actually found themselves behind on the scoreboard. The Eagles' 1-0 lead in game three, was short lived as the Dukes went on to win 7-1.

Not this time, when the Dukes trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes, the Duke faithful were still convinced it would be just a matter of time before their Dukes would roar back.

It didn't happen. It was the Waxers whose confidence soared with a well crafted 4-1 lead just 7 minutes into the third period. And another good thing for them. It was a powerplay goal by the Wax that gave them a 4-1 lead.

It was virgin territory for a Duke team who has had the scoreboard all in their favour since they began the playoffs. But an O'Grady powerplay goal cut the lead to 2 goals just 2 minutes after the Wax had taken a 4-1 lead.

But the Waxers shut it down after that.No faltering. Just as they had done to the St. Michael's Buzzers.

Then a short-handed tally, late in the game on a too many men penalty to the Waxers really snuffed out any thoughts of a Duke rally.

So the Waxers tied the series with a convincing 5-2 win right in the fabled Dukedome.

When Dukester crowed about the Waxer fans' chagrin with the Duke faithful he put it this way: "Get to an NHL game and listen to the banter my friend. Lick your wounds and get ready for tomorrow, as this is Junior hockey."

Well the Waxers sure did get ready for Sunday .

There appears still, no panic among the Duke faithful.

This is simply one game in a best of seven.But if Markham wanted to garner some respect from the Duke faithful, they should now have it.

If there were 1400 at game one in Markham, the Markham Centennial should best that attendance for game three Tuesday night.

Stay tuned.






Wayjoy

I was there,seen them play several times actually thought they played well,Markham played there usual game....(completely void except 5 minutes second period game 1)skating freewheeling style,bare in mind they beat two excellent teams to get here in vaughn and st. mikes...are those 2 compareable to bville and kingston? dont know. I just know a lot of people keep underestimating the wax,and they just keep on winning....game 3 should be a beaut...

Game three should be the pivotal game in this series. But the Dukes won the all important one, the 1st game.

As you know, something like 20 of the 23 playoff series so far have gone to the team that wins the first game of a playoff series.

Will this one be the same?

Stay tuned.

Wayjoy

Who ever wins the last one will win the series

Toronto Maple Leafs= Ford Motor Company

I haven't seen all this hype about the Dukes being so great or a whole lot of publicity on a 9 game playoff winning streak. Where is all this hype? Why did you start a new thread for Sunday's loss? Perhaps so you could get your big headline. Things that make you go hmm!

Jack Welch, on creativity, put it best, Dukester :

"We know where most of the creativity, the innovation, the stuff that drives productivity lies - in the minds of those closest to the work."

As for the headline and another thread, Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way:

"There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination."





Wayjoy

Dukester, this was probably a headline Wayne was going to use in the Dukes-Vees series, but seeing he did'nt have the opportunity to use he just could'nt help himself and had to use it know. Even if there already was a thread started on the topic already.

GO DUKES GO 3-2 win in OT

I think you hit it. He needed to bring attention to himself so he started a headline that would bring that and at the same time s**t on the Dukes that beat his beloved Vees. I don't get it but everyone is different aren't they. Personally I want the Dukes to be tested and if they cannot take it to the finals so be it! I am rather tired of watching sweeps with little excitement.

Well if you ignore the first game ... the rest is going to be a sweep I think?

I am getting the feeling that this series might be one of the few where the team that wins the first game will not go on to win the series.

You have every right to chime about the virtues and excellence of the South's best teams. Markham sure looks to have that old friend in their corner now...momentum.

Good for the Waxers and the South. As Matty would say: "The team that wins the last game will win the series."

Wayjoy