Chippy, scrappy and sloppy

Dukes’ forward Mitch Panechuk creates a screen in front of Vee’s netminder Charlie Finn during play on Friday night at the Essroc Arena.

Yet Dukes emerge with pair of wins in pre-season action

Just two games into the pre-season and controversy is already defining the rivalry between the Wellington Dukes and the Kingston Voyageurs. Never mind that the Kingston coaches couldn’t corral wild man Joey Couture, whose antics caused his team to play shorthanded an average of six minutes of each of the two home and away games. It was a collision between Dukes rugged forward Mitch McNeill and the Vees’ goaltender that got Kingston’s new general manager in a full lather on Sunday.

On the Vees website after the game this was posted.

“I’m disgusted by this gutless and cowardly attack. They knew what they were doing and I fully believe it was intentional. They have pretty much ruined this kid’s chance to represent his country and have seriously affected the biggest year of his hockey career,” said a fired up General Manager Denis Duchesne.

Vees netminder Charlie Finn had skated as part of the Team Canada evaluation camp on Saturday in Whitby, and is hoping to make the team that participates in the World Junior Challenge.

On the other side of the rink the Dukes saw things much differently.

“He (Mitch McNeill) was driving hard to the net,” explained forward Craig Campbell. “There was no intent to injure or even hit the goaltender. It is something that happens in a contact sport.”

Finn suffered a fractured collar bone as a result of the collision and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.

The Voyageurs, it seems, will have bigger problems than a healthy netminder this season if they aren’t able to enforce discipline in their talented but erratic squad.

The Dukes won both matches (Friday and Sunday) skating away. In each game they gave up the early lead only to storm back and win in a decisive manner.

On Friday the Dukes dressed just three players from last season (Braden Kavaratzis, Jeff Stanton and Cole Bolton) giving a host of newcomers and hopefuls a long look in game action.

Kavaratzis scored twice and added an assist in a dominant display on Friday. Josh Gervais and Jackson Howe each earned a couple of points in the game. Stanton made up for some early rustiness with an impressive endto- end rush—weaving through traffic and potting the puck top corner to seal the win for the Dukes.

Andrew Pearson went the distance in net for the Dukes.

“Pearson was the difference,” said Campbell. “He stole it for us. He made a lot of big saves at key moments. We gave up too many breakaways— but he kept us in it.”

And away…

On Sunday the action shifted to Kingston where once again Pearson was given the assignment. After giving up an early goal in the first period Pearson settled down his teammates got their legs moving.

In this game the Dukes dressed eight players from last year’s squad plus Rich Stetham, who has returned to Wellington after two seasons skating for Carleton Place. Darcy Murphy had a pair of goals—signalling perhaps a breakout year for this hardworking, tenacious forward. Kavaratzis added a pair of assists. Gervais added his second goal in as many games. Cam Yuill, Stanton and Jackson Howe rounded out the scoring.

Notwithstanding the ravings of the Kingston general manager, the game’s outcome was cast by a lack of form late in the third period. Still steaming from the injury to their netminder, Kingston forward Brodie Tutton was penalized for roughing well after the whistle had been blown.

19-year-old forward Craig Campbell

Darcy Murphy scored on the ensuing power play, giving the Dukes a 4-3 lead. Jeff Stanton added another early in the third. Then Joey Couture erupted again, earning his team a sevenminute man disadvantage. The game was effectively over.

Assessment
Craig Campbell, a 19-year-old forward, earned 47 points in 41 games with the Strathroy Rockets of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

He sees the potential for a very well-rounded team shaping up around him in Wellington.

“Pearson has been solid in net so far. We have a lot of quick players on defence able to make a rapid transition out of our zone. And the forwards combine speed, skill and willingness to play a good gritty game too.”

General Manager and Head Coach Marty Abrams is generally pleased with the performances he saw on the weekend.

“I thought the speed and intensity was outstanding,” said Abrams. “We need to do some work on the defensive end but at this point in the season I was impressed with the overall play.”

And the hit on Kingston’s goalie?

“It is a non-issue,” said Abrams. “He (McNeill) didn’t try and injure that kid—it is just something that happens in hockey.”

Next up: Peterborough and Trenton
The Dukes host the Stars at the Essroc Centre of the Wellington and District Community Centre as pre-season action continues on Friday night. With a solid core of returning players Peterborough is threatening to be a leading contender in the OJHL East this season.

On Sunday the Dukes travel to Trenton to renew their cross-bay rivalry with the Quinte West team. Trenton has struggled since reforming as the Golden Hawks two seasons ago.

But now a new management team has been installed headed by Jerome Dupont as general manager and head coach. Dupont, a former Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks defenceman, is widely credited as the driving force that led the Aurora Tigers to the Royal Bank Cup national championship in 2007.

Many believe Dupont has been brought in to craft a winning team in Trenton. If so, the crossbay rivalry between the Dukes and the Golden Hawks looks to be intense and hard fought.

OHL action in Wellington
Tickets for the September 10 pre-season game between the Belleville Bulls and Kingston Frontenacs at the Essroc Arena in Wellington are now on sale at Lavender Furniture and through the Dukes’ ticket office.