PK troubles

Chase St-Aubin scored a pair goals on Monday, leading the Dukes to a 3-1 win. Playing alongside Ben Sokay and Luc Brown, St-Aubin is making the most of his opportunity.

Power play goals blunt a fast start to the season

The Wellington Dukes’ penalty killing has been woeful in the early going of the new season—currently worst in the OJHL. Through four games, opposing teams are scoring a goal for every two opportunities with the man-advantage. In past years, this might have been less of a concern since the Dukes were among the least penalized teams in the league. While the Dukes haven’t racked up penalty minutes the way Trenton or Mississauga have, they are uncharacteristically one of the higher penalized team so far.

That makes for some tough games.

WELLINGTON 2 – BURLINGTON 7
Every time the referees sent a Dukes player to the penalty box on Saturday afternoon in Burlington, the Cougars scored. Five penalties. Five goals. The Dukes competed well at even strength—five skaters on each side. But penalties meant they could get little going.

It was 3-0 after the first period. Aiden Girduckis scored late in the second to get on the scoreboard. But less than minute later, with a Dukes forward in the box for a high stick infraction, Burlington scored another power play goal.

Burlington scored its first even-strength goal in the third period. A moment later, the Dukes’ Nick DeVito set up his team’s second goal of the game—16-year-old Tyler Burnie’s first junior hockey goal.

But midway through the final period, another Dukes forward was sent to the penalty box. Another Burlington goal. A moment later the Cougars scored again, sealing the rout—7-2. Yet it was just their second even-strength goal.

WELLINGTON 3 – COBOURG 1
It was a better story on Monday night in Cobourg facing another team of Cougars— though worryingly, the Dukes again found themselves regular occupants of the penalty box. Chase St-Aubin was back in his second game after missing the first two of the season. The fast and hard-nosed forward skated on a line with Luc Brown and Ben Sokay.

A minute into the road game, St-Aubin scored, picking up the loose puck, driven on net by Jake Falcao. But later in the period, the Dukes were short-handed again when DeVito was called for a high stick. Cobourg evened the score. DeVito redeemed himself in the second period, setting up Brodie Maracle’s goal and restoring the Dukes’ lead. After that, the Dukes played tight defensive hockey—giving Cobourg lessons about sealing off the neutral zone. In the waning minutes, Cobourg pulled netminder Stephan Durante for another skater. But Sokay found St-Aubin streaking up the wing with a solid pass. St-Aubin tallied into the empty net.

PLAYMAKERS
DeVito is proving to be the Dukes’ set up guy—notching five assists in four games so far. The crafty 20-year-old winger, from near Albany, New York, has exceptional hands and manoeuvrability with the puck. Falcao is just behind DeVito with four assists. The defenceman keeps things simple—he finds a lane and puts the puck on net—giving his forwards a chance at a potential rebound.

UP NEXT: KINGSTON AND THE HOME OPENER
It is a busy week for the Dukes. They get back on the bus to Kingston on Thursday. The Voyageurs are retooling this year and have lost all three starts so far, allowing an average of six goals per game. But Kingston is a proud team. It is likely the Vees have been looking forward to these two games against Wellington.

On Friday night, the Dukes at last will be home. Appropriately, Wellington will welcome arch-rivals Kingston Voyageurs for the second game of their home and away series.

On Sunday, the Dukes go back out on the road to face Lindsay. On Tuesday, the Dukes go south of the border for the OJHL’s annual Governor’s Showcase series in Buffalo. They will take on the North York Rangers on Tuesday night and the Oakville Blades on Wednesday.