Back to the rink

Dukes busy to start the year

The Dukes skate back into action this week. It is the time of year new faces tend to show up in the Dukes’ lineup as the league heads toward the January 10 trade deadline. But the enthusiasm for loading up this year is likely muted by the fact that two teams in the Dukes’ division will be compelled to attract the best talent that comes available in the coming days. Cobourg, as host of the RBC Cup, has a berth in the national tournament and is, therefore obliged, to ensure they are a nationally competitive team. Similarly, Trenton is hosting the regional finals—the Dudley Hewitt Cup—encompassing three leagues. The Golden Hawks will not embarrass themselves or the league.

It is, therefore, a highly competitive market this year—with limited potential return available for the Dukes. In Dukesland there is no such thing as a rebuilding year, yet it seems unlikely that 2017 is the year to empty the vault.

But neither will the Dukes pack it in and ride out the string. There is too much heart and determination on this team. Wellington’s lineup boasts the best two forwards in the league—Brayden Stortz and Nic Mucci. And Connor Ryckman is among the league’s best netminders. The Dukes will be competitive and thrilling to watch until the end. There is much yet to prove.

But this season, ultimately, belongs to other teams.

UP NEXT: NEWMARKET, MARKHAM AND ST. MICHAEL’S
The Dukes will make up for a longer-thanusual break with a busy schedule this week. It begins in Newmarket on Thursday night. Wellington won the last matchup in early December on the back of a strong game by Kyle Prendel. They will need that again. Newmarket is a below .500 team, but is coming off back-toback wins over Aurora. Further, the Hurricanes, though well back of Markham and Stouffville, still have a shot at catching up with the leaders in the North Division. The Dukes will need to be alert and ready to compete on the road.

On Friday night, the Dukes host Markham for the second time in a couple of weeks. Wellington ended 2016 with a 3-1 win over the visiting Royals on December 20. Stortz scored the winner and an empty net goal in that game. Markham currently tops the North Division standings with 48 points.

On Sunday, the Dukes travel to Bathurst and St. Clair in Toronto to face the St. Michael’s Buzzers for the first and only time this season. Echoes of past rivalries surely still swirl in this old rink. St. Michael’s is in a dogfight with the Oakville Blades, sitting six points behind the leader.

The Dukes will be mindful that St. Michael’s is the least penalized team in the OJHL by a wide margin—with a decent, if-not-stellar, powerplay.