Back to normal

Dukes prepare for a new season

It felt odd to be back in the rink—to size up the current iteration of the Wellington Dukes. It is always slightly dissonant heading into the arena when it’s 30 degrees outside. But this oddness was accentuated by the fact that it felt normal. After two years of Covid-disrupted life, the security guards were gone. Betty was in the ticket box. Linda and Judy greeted fans and anxiety-racked parents. Robert and Christine sold 50/50. Debbie had her pop-up boutique of Dukes wear assembled and ready for business. Pierre and David compared notes along the upper rails as they always do.

So normal.

On the ice too. Pre-season is essentially a lighter version of the hunger games. Always has been. A handful of the players and wannabes watch the game from the Task Force Lounge. While on the ice, each competitor is looking to use their precious ice time to stand out from the crowd—a big hit, a nifty pass, a bold rush—at the cost of friends and foe. None of it makes for particularly compelling hockey. Yet, it was great to be back. Great to be normal.

Cougar veteran Parker Hendsbee swats a high puck, knocking it into the net on Friday past Jacob Osborne. But it was way too high. The goal was called back, and nobody argued.

The Dukes beat the Cougars on Friday night 3-1, not that the score mattered much, other than avenging a loss five days earlier in Cobourg. George Krotiris is a feisty, fast and highly skilled forward with the Cougars—emphasis on feisty. Hot-headed even. Krotiris led his team to the South East Conference final last season before submitting to the Toronto Junior Canadians.

Krotiris was the target for several aspiring Dukes during the first period on Friday. He was offended by the lack of regard—“don’t they know who I am” was written in his body language as he picked himself from the ice. Over and over again.

The game settled down. Cobourg generated a few more shots. The Dukes were fewer but better. Late in the period, Tyler Alexander kept the puck from squeezing out of the Cobourg zone. A sharp pass to Corbin Roach deep in the corner. Quick pass to Ed Moskowitz in the slot, who buried his shot—his third goal in two games in the Dukes jersey.

The Dukes were forced to fend off a four- minute penalty—an ill-considered spearing offence—but escaped the period with the one-goal lead intact. Early in the second, Dukes forward Zander Latreille threw a long pass up the centre of the ice, hitting Jaxen Boyer, streaking toward the net. Boyer scored on the partial break, extending the Dukes’ lead.

The Cougars gifted the Dukes with six power play opportunities in the match, but the hometown squad was unable to convert on any. The closest chance came when a Dukes forward, serving on the point, coughed up the puck—giving Cobourg a short-handed chance. Osborne made the save.

The Cougars got on the board, beating Brady Spry on a cross-ice pass and shot. But David Campbell tallied late in the period to seal the home win.

UP NEXT: SMITH FALLS
The Dukes welcome the Smith Falls Bears on Wednesday (tonight) in an interleague game. On Friday, the Dukes return the favour by travelling to Smith Falls. Then on Saturday, they get back on the bus and head to Georgetown to take on the Raiders.

The regular season gets underway on Friday Sept. 9, in Wellington as the Dukes welcome the Lindsay Muskies.