Darcy Murphy (left) anchors line with new teammates Stephen Saretsky (19) and Ryan Donahoe (14).

Dukes push through tough part of schedule

Penalties, or more precisely three power play goals scored while short handed, erased what was another strong performance on Friday as the Wellington Dukes skated back into action for the first time this season. Winners in their last four meetings the Dukes were ready to make it five in front of a large hometown crowd—and for two and a half periods they were the dominant team— jumping out to a 4-2 lead early into the second period. But then a pair of power play goals by Golden Hawks in the frame stalled the Dukes momentum. The capper was a third period shot by Golden Hawk Josh Sidwell that simply eluded Dukes netminder Tyler Marble and gave Trenton the lead for the first time in the game. They were as surprised as the 1,000 fans sitting silently in the stands.

It was the Dukes third loss in a row at home—unable to produce a win in Wellington for over a month.

The loss put the Dukes 12 points behind their cross-bay rivals—but more troubling— the Dukes weren’t able to make up ground with the second place Cobourg Cougars who as of Monday sit comfortably in second place— six points ahead of Wellington.

The Dukes would dearly like to pass the Cougars in the next five weeks—to gain the first round bye that goes to the top two teams in the division. Though arranged differently this year—of the four teams that competed and won their qualifying round in last year’s playoffs—all were defeated in the very next round.

Last year the top three teams in each division received a bye. This year’s playoff format says that just the top two teams will avoid the qualifying round. Unless the Dukes can close the gap they will be playing at least three more games (in a best of five series)—while Trenton and Cobourg rest their troops.

Ryan Donahoe was the leading point getter for Peterborough before his trade to Wellington—that despite missing nine games.

BIG WIN IN TORONTO
The Dukes quickly put Friday’s loss behind them as they traveled to Etobicoke’s Mastercard Arena on Saturday to take on the South Division’s Toronto Lakeshore Patriots. With Sean Pearson getting the nod in net (netminder Charlie Graham is with the Belleville Bulls for at least a week) the Dukes opened up a two-goal lead on markers from Gui Naud and David Pratt, both assisted by Craig Campbell.

The speedy Patriots skated with the Dukes through two periods pelting Pearson with the rubber biscuit—outshooting the Dukes 15-7 in the first period. With a twoman advantage late in the second period Toronto finally beat the Dukes netminder pulling within one goal of the Dukes.

The Patriot’s celebration was shortlived,

however, as the Dukes Darcy Murphy forced a turnover and scored while his teammate, Guillaume Naud, remained in the penalty box. It was Murphy’s first shorthanded goal of the season and it signaled the end of Toronto’s comeback hopes. The Dukes tightened up defensively and scored three times in the third, from Simon Bessette, Jan Kaminsky and Craig Campbell—Campbell’s third point of the game.

LINE UP MOVES
Ryan Donahoe (19) and Stephen Saretsky (14) have not yet made a major impact on their new clubs in a pair of games since being acquired over the past week. Both have been playing on a line with Dukes sniper Darcy Murphy. Donahoe was the leading scorer with the Peterborough Stars until he was traded. He showed flashes of creativity and strong stick handling ability on Friday. A few more practices and expect this forward to start racking up points.

With Charlie Graham perhaps lost to the Belleville Bulls for the season—the Dukes have been on the lookout for another netminder. Orangeville’s Jared Lockhurst has been widely speculated to be on Wellington’s radar. In 30 games for the Flyers this season—Lockhurst has 13-17 record and a goals against average of 4.27. The 20-year-old has been a strong performer on poor teams through his four years in the OJHL.

UP NEXT
The Dukes travel to Kingston on Thursday to meet the flagging Voyageurs. Winless in their last three outings Kingston remains a dangerous opponent and motivated to challenge Wellington.

On Friday the Dukes travel to Toronto to take on St. Mikes—the South Division leader. It will be the Dukes first opportunity to test Buzzer’s netminder Adrian Ignagni. The Dukes’ Tyler Marble and the Buzzer’s Ignagni sit atop the goaltender rankings in terms of save percentage.

Whitby will host Wellington on Sunday afternoon. Masters of the shut down defence—the Fury will be looking to establish another close checking game. A win will help to put distance between the Dukes and the Fury who are nipping at their heels.

SCHOLARSHIP
Simon Bessette has accepted an NCAA Division One Scholarship to Clarkson University located in Potsdam, New York. The 20-year-old native of St. Jean, Quebec first came to the attention of Dukes Head Coach and General Manager Marty Abrams while playing for Team Canada East at the 2009 World Junior A Tournament. The next summer the Dukes acquired the speedy forward who was assigned to check the other teams top scoring lines as well as play on the penalty killing unit.

Despite his two way role Bessette managed to record 22 points in 46 games and was named Dukes Player of the Month for May which covered the games played at the Royal Bank Cup as well as winning the team award for sportsmanship.

Bessette also has the distinction of having scored the Dukes franchise 5,000th goal back in January. Prior to training camp this season he was named the Team Captain. Within his first 23 games this season he exceed his point total earned all last year. With 13 games remaining in their schedule he has accumulated 33 points.

The Clarkson Golden Knights roster includes goaltender Paul Karpowich as well as forward Joe Zarbo, one of eight Dukes players to graduate to the NCAA from the Dudley Hewitt Championship team in 2011.

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 fifteenth in a series of tracking down former Duke Players.

NAME: SCOTT FLEMING
This Plainfield, Ontario native arrived at the Dukes training camp in 2004 as a 16 year old forward after playing for the Quinte Red Devils AAA minor midget program. At 5’9’ and 155 lbs Scott was able to survive his rookie season in Junior A and managed to pick up 13 points while playing mostly on a checking line. In his second season he was able to elevate his play and finished with 46 points. His third and final season with the Dukes saw him up his totals to 68 points and help lead the team to the OJHL Playoff Finals for the third time in six seasons.

In 2007 Scott earned a scholarship with the Ivy League school Dartmouth College which is located in Hanover, New Hampshire, one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution. After playing four seasons Scott graduated last June with a major in Economics. He had a great hockey and academic career while he was there and was named assistant captain in his junior year and team captain in his senior season. He also was awarded “All Ivey Academic Team” in two out of his four years at school.

In September Scott turned pro when he signed with the Portland Pirates of the AHL. They sent him to the ECHL for a bit of seasoning with the Gwinnett Gladiators located in Duluth, Georgia. He got off to a flying start scoring three goals and adding an assist in just six games and was getting close to being called up to Portland when he suffered a concussion in October. According to his father, Tom, Scott is doing fine although he’s still showing minor concussion symptoms. He started light workouts a couple of weeks ago and hopes to increase his workout intensity soon.

DID YOU KNOW?
Prior to his last season with the Dukes Scott was named team captain and finished the season second in team scoring.