Dukes take game two

Spectacular performances from Joe McKeown, Tyson Teichmann underline strong team win

Andrew McCann celebrates after putting the Dukes up 1-0 in the second period.

The ice had already begun to tilt in the Dukes favour after a stunningly fast and furious second period in Wellington on Wednesday night. Late in the third period the score was 2-0 for the Dukes and for 15 minutes the Dukes controlled the played largely in the Fort Frances end. But suddenly the Lakers had fresh legs fresh intensity and were pushing hard for a goal.

Dukes captain Erick Delaurentis, frustrated from near constant mauling, hooking and tackling, reacted. Unwisely. He went to the penalty box with just over five minutes left in the game and Fort Frances with a head of steam.

The Dukes penalty killing squad responded, as they had all night. Moving well, keeping the shots to the outside—closing shooting lanes as quickly as they appeared. A minute into the penalty kill, Joe McKeown scooped up the puck along the boards in his own end and headed up ice.

Now, how it typically works when at the end of a shift on the power play, the puck-carrying forward skates with as deep as he can into the opposing zone, then dumps the puck deep or on net. Meanwhile the other penalty killers peel off to be replaced by fresh skaters. Then the puck carrier dashes to the bench for his replacement. That is what is supposed to happen. That is how they are trained.

But McKeown saw an opportunity. The Lakers were in the midst of an awkward line change. Rather than dump the puck—he slickly dangled around the Fort Frances defence—and went to the net. Completely undressing the otherwise solid netminder, McKeown deked and lifted the puck just under the cross bar.

The hometown crowd went crazy.

Only then did the tension that filled the Essroc centre finally let up. Until then the outcome had been far from clear.

The Fort Frances Lakers appear a more balanced team than the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. More skill. More speed. Plus, like the Gold Miners, the Lakers play an intense physical game.

Through the first period both team created scoring chances, forcing both netminders, Tyson Teichmann for the Dukes and Jordan McCartney for the Lakers, to make some big saves. After 30 minutes there was no score.

Then early in the second Dukes defenceman blocked a Lakers shot on net—the picked up the puck scooping it out of his zone. Speedster Andrew McCann picked up the puck and skated down the wing curling on net with Turcotte also heading to the net. McCann’s bullet wrist shot beat the Lakers netminder on the short side. The Dukes had a 1-0 lead.

The period produced some of the fastest and most intense action of the tournament so far. Both teams eased up on the grinding game for a bit, skating wildly up and down the ice. It wasn’t careful hockey—but thrilling beyond belief. Over and over again, Erick Delaurentis et al were robbed of glorious goal scoring chances.

In the third period the Lakers found themselves increasingly on the defensive. Seven minutes into the frame the Dukes Mike Robinson found a rebound and beat McCartney to give Wellington a two-goal lead.

For the next ten minutes the Lakers played desperate hockey.

Teichmann was spectacular. Hanging on to his shut out. Sliding across the crease to kick out rebound shots.

Then came McKeown’s goal. And with one brilliant move—the intensity that had built over two and half periods popped like a balloon. The Dukes skated home with a 3-0 lead.

Up next

The Dukes face the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots tonight at the Essroc Centre, in a game some are predicting may be a preview of the Dudley Hewitt Cup final. Good tickets are still available

For a complete tournament schedule, click here.