Speed kings

Eighteen-year-old forward Ben Sokay scored with just over a minute left in the game on Sunday to tie the score and send the match into overtime.

Preseason Dukes show hustle and grit

The Dukes were trailing by goal late in its first exhibition game. Playing at home, it would be great to at least tie the score. But when holding a lead, Cobourg is a skilled force at clogging up the neutral zone—throwing every skater between the bluelines to turn back even the most creative and determined offensive rush.

Then with just a couple minutes left in regulation time, the Dukes were tagged with not one but two penalties. Armed with a luxurious 90-second two-man advantage, the beards skated off the Cobourg bench, looking to widen the lead against a younger, smaller Wellington squad. But the three remaining Dukes on the ice, led by defenceman Jacob Panetta, tightened up—speedily picked up loose pucks, efficiently tossing them the length of the ice. It is how they killed the first penalty.

With a fourth skater now on the ice, the Dukes could afford to let forward Ben Sokay drift a little higher—ready to pounce if the opportunity arose. A broken play. The puck comes loose and slides into the Cobourg zone. It was just Sokay and a lone Cougar defender in a footrace. The defender was closer. It was his wing. Sokay had to come across the rink. With an astonishing burst of speed, Sokay sailed past the Cobourg player, scooped up the puck, swung back around with enough time to skate unmolested through the crease. When the goaltender committed, Sokay struck.

Sheer foot speed. Short-handed goal. The game was tied.

In overtime, each team is stripped of one player. It is preseason, and on-ice communication is still a work in progress. Errant passes gave both sides game-ending chances. But it was a messy scramble at the Cobourg net, with bodies piled on bodies, that sealed the win. Ninety seconds into overtime, Dukes’ forwards Liam Hunter and Shaw Boomhower went hard to the net and kept whacking at the loose puck until it was behind the Cobourg netminder.

Within five minutes, the Dukes had turned a disappointing loss into a satisfying victory.

Boomhower further enhanced his chances at cracking the Dukes’ lineup on Monday night, scoring twice, both with assists from Colin Doyle, leading the Dukes to a 4-1 over the Cougars in Cobourg. Boomhower scored shorthanded early in the first period. The Cougars tied the score nearing the midway point in the second period. Then Aiden Girduckis, brother to Abbott, scored from the blueline, restoring the Dukes lead. Defenceman Jake Falcao scored in the third. Boomhower and Doyle bookended the scoring with their second tally of the evening. Olivier Lafreniere earned the win in the Dukes net.

Monday’s lineup was vastly different than the one that skated out on Sunday night—pointing to the fact the Dukes still have some difficult decisions to make. This is best illuminated by the situation in goal. Four netminders played in the two exhibition games—collectively they allowed just three goals. Daniel Potter has returned for his final year of eligibility. Olivier Lafreniere iswaiting for a spot to open up in with the Ottawa 67s. Sixteen-year-old Anthony Popovich has looked strong in the mix, as has free agent Dustin Myskiw. Newly acquired Austin Waskurak will likely get the nod this weekend.

UP NEXT
The Dukes have three exhibition games to play before their season opens on September 4 in Trenton.

On Friday, the Dukes welcome the Pembroke Lumber Kings to Wellington for a 7:30 p.m. game. After that, the Dukes don’t play at home again until September 18. Its first five games are on the road.

On Saturday, the Dukes face the Golden Hawks in Trenton and then travel to Pembroke for its final preseason game.