Craig Campbell rings the puck off the goal post in Wellington’s 3-2 loss against the Lindsay Muskies on Sunday.

Dukes head to winter break on an untidy note

It was a strange spectacle. More childish than intimidating. After submitting themselves to an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of the Dukes on Friday night in front of a large contingent of Wellington fans, a dozen or more Golden Hawks players stared down the victors as they left the ice—daring the Wellington players to salute their appreciative fans.

Disciplined to the end, the Dukes players skated to the exit, savouring their fourth straight win over the first place Golden Hawks. On Trenton ice yet.

It was the better part of a mixed weekend— a weekend in which fans said goodbye to their team for then next three weeks. Rather than continue apace the Dukes stumbled on Sunday before a sparse hometown crowd—falling 3-2 to a disintegrating Lindsay Muskies squad—a team that had failed to score in its previous three games.

But back to Friday’s win.

The Dukes started the game strong. David Pratt powered a bullet pass diagonally from one blueline to the tape of Guilluame Naud’s stick at the other. Naud stepped across the blueline—fired a blast that pinballed between the Trenton netminder and the Dukes’ Anthony Taylor driving to the crease. The puck ended up in the net and the Dukes had the early lead and never looked back.

The Dukes opened up a four-goal lead by the midpoint of the game. Trenton netminder Spencer Finney got the hook. His backup Andrew Winsor could fare no better. A Jeff Stanton goal chased Finney from the net, but before the second period was done, another Stanton shot—a simple shot on net from a bad angle—slid through Winsor’s pads.

Darcy Murphy earned a hat trick plus an assist in in the drubbing. Naud and Stanton each earned three points.

Tyler Marble was solid in net for the Dukes, particularly in the first period when the outcome of the game was still in question.

Lanky forward Anthony Taylor celebrates the first goal of Friday’s game in which the Dukes defeated the Trenton Golden Hawks 8-2.

“It is easy to be focused against a team like Trenton,” observed Dukes Captain Simon Bessette. “A big crowd, a big rivalry—players are  at their best. We were ready and we showed up.” It was the Dukes’ fourth straight victory against the league-leading Golden Hawks—only Trenton’s fifth loss all season.

“It was a big statement,” said Bessette. “It wasn’t our best game but we executed the game plan very well—shooting the puck from everywhere and driving the net. If we want to go far into the playoffs we are going to have to go through Trenton. We proved to ourselves and our fans that we can beat them.”

FALLING SHORT
Sunday should have been easy by comparison. After a strong start to their season the Muskies slumped and never recovered. Now the team is unloading its 20-year-old talent; others have gone home awaiting a trade. Worse, the Muskies had lost it previous three games, including one against the Dukes, without managing to score a single goal.

But desperate teams are dangerous opponents. Luke Bierworth is a solid netminder—better than his 3.76 goals-against average implies.

On Sunday the Dukes peppered the Muskie netminder with 55 shots—but never led on the score sheet. The Dukes allowed Lindsay to skate with ease into the Wellington zone less than two minutes into the game—firing a shot that zipped past Tyler Marble’s glove hand and into the net. The game seemed in hand for the Dukes despite the one-goal deficit as Wellington dominated territorial play, earning several good scoring chances.

Naud finished a slick passing play from Bessette and Craig Campbell to knot the score at one. But another defensive zone breakdown led to another Muskie goal. Still nothing to panic about. The Dukes continue to press into the third period—finally tying up the score for a second time—Jan Kaminisky hammering home a loose puck in a scramble in the Muskie crease.

The Muskies hung their heads—they’d read this script before. Then, with just over two minutes left in the game, the Muskies’ JC Campagna was sent to the box for two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Dukes still couldn’t solve Bierworth. It appeared the game was headed for overtime. Then Campagna stepped back on the ice, streaked down the wing, taking a pass just inside the blueline. His slapshot twisted past Marble, top shelf.

The hometown crowd was stunned as the Muskies celebrated.

Darcy Murphy kept up his torrid scoring pace on Friday— burying three goals in the Dukes win. Murphy leads the league with 37 goals—nine more than his nearest rival.

“Fifty-five shots should have been enough to win that game,” said Bessette. “But I think we helped that netminder a little bit—shooting the puck into his chest—instead of making him move and forcing him to make the save.

“When you shoot that many shots—and you drive to the net—you should win. Yesterday we didn’t drive the net like we can and it was the difference. Our job is to get the puck on net and create rebounds. We didn’t do that enough on Sunday.”

The Dukes were without Anthony Taylor on Sunday—a late scratch after a gritty performance on Friday night.

“Taylor is a big guy,” said Bessette. “He has a lot of experience—and he knows how to use his size—to protect the puck and carve his own path to the net.

“Yesterday without him in the lineup we were missing a big part of our team. The rest of the guys had to step up but we fell short. It wasn’t our game. It isn’t acceptable— but sometimes it just happens.”

CHRISTMAS BREAK
After Tuesday’s game in Peterborough the Dukes players dispersed, heading home for the holidays: to Strathroy, Sudbury, Scarborough and St. Lazerew and St. Jean. To Atlanta Georgia and Vernon, B.C. To Echo Bay and Lively, Ontario.

The Dukes are off until January 6—18 days to get ready for the “second” season. “It is a really important break,” said Bessette. “It is good for the guys who are bit banged up and bruised. But the break is good for everyone. It is a tough part of the season— guys are a bit tired. We need this break—to rest, be with family and get ready for the new year.”

After Christmas the intensity really cranks up. Games become more physical as teams fight for their season and play off lives.

Where are they now?

The Wellington Dukes trace their hockey roots to the former Belleville Bobcats franchise, purchased in 1989 by 10-year operators of a successful Wellington Junior ‘C’ representative who moved the acquired squad to the tiny Village. This is the thirteenth in a series of tracking down former Duke Players.

NAME: ANDREW RAYCROFT
Andrew was a product of the Quinte ‘AAA’ Red Devils Minor Hockey program and appeared at the 1996 Wellington Dukes training camp as a 16 year old. The team had about 14 players trying out for the two openings in net with the plan being to keep one older one and one younger one. Andrew won the battle for the younger position and by season’s end had taken over the # 1 spot from the older goalie.

His strong second half with the Dukes caught the eye of the OHL Sudbury Wolves who drafted him that year. After playing two seasons up north he was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs for his final junior year, and what a year it was. He was named to the OHL First All-Star Team; OHL Goaltender of the Year; OHL Red Tilson Trophy winner (Most Outstanding Player); Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of the Year as well as Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team.

The Boston Bruins selected him in the 1998 NHL draft and after playing a couple of years in the American Hockey League he made it with the Bruins in the 2003-2004 season and was named to the NHL All- Rookie Team.

It only seems like yesterday that I saw Andrew playing in the old DukeDome and now here he is in his tenth season in the NHL and he has put up some decent numbers, as his 2.89 goals-against average and .900 save percentage indicates.

DID YOU KNOW?
Andrew won the 2003-2004 NHL Calder Memorial Trophy as the Rookie of the Year.