By Alex Gallacher

The Haliburton County Huskies are currently sitting second in the South/East conference and third overall in the OJHL. Starting the new year with a record of 2-2-0-0, the Huskies have been making a push to try and catch Tyler Fukakusa and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. 

In order to make this push to the top of the standings, the Huskies have welcomed two key additions to their forward core. 20-year-old Josh Currie has joined the Huskies from the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, the Pickering, Ontario forward has 17 goals in four seasons in the zero spanning across three different teams. 

Joining Currie on the Huskies is former Windsor Spitfire Thomas Johnston. 

The 19-year-old from Oshawa, Ontario spent four seasons in the OHL splitting time between the Spitfires and 67s. In his time there, he logged 18 goals with a breakout 15 goal season in 2021-22. 

With all the acquisitions, the Huskies have parted ways with Nathan Duplessis. Duplessis has four goals in 32 games this season with the Huskies, and will now suit up with the GOJHL’s Caledonia Corvairs. 

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the Huskies travelled to the Lehigh Arena to take on their bitter rivals the Wellington Dukes. With the Dukes chasing the Huskies in the standings, this was a must win for the boys in blue. The Huskies came into the game with a seven points cushion, however, the Dukes had two games in hand. 

After a scoreless first period left both teams fired up, the Dukes got to work. Jacob Vreugdenhill ripped his 19th of the season to break the deadlock on the Powerplay. Less than a minute later, the Dukes doubled their lead coming off a goal from Ryan Cutler. Before the period was up, the Huskies stopped the bleeding with Leo Serlin getting the team amped and ready to go. The energy was great for the team, as in the span of 45 seconds the Huskies managed to tie the game with AP player Ben Hofstetter logging his first as a Husky. 

The period ended with Lucas LaPalm reclaiming the Dukes lead. 

With an all-important two points on the line the Huskies needed a tying goal; Jack Staniland delivered. Tying the game and making it an all-out free for all to see who will win. However, try as the Huskies may LaPalm added his second of the game with four minutes to go sealing the victory for the Dukes. 

The Huskies finished the game with 38 shots on goal, one more than their opposition, and goalie Aidan Spooner finished with 33 saves on 37 shots.