Depth

Dukes subdue St. Mike’s with numbers

Among the frailties of a weekly Dukes column is that the outcome can get upended between the deadline and the moment you read these words. And so, we are going to go out on a limb and assume the Dukes won last night in Toronto, closing out their first-round series by sweeping the St. Michaels Buzzers in four games. (But in the event that does not happen, these teams will square off in Wellington on Friday. In either event, we will update this story online on Wednesday.)

How did they do it? The simple answer is that the Dukes were better. Faster. More disciplined. Much more committed to the game plan—and each other. But mostly, it was about depth.

St. Mikes has two lines that can skate toeto- toe with the Dukes. And when Martino, Cohen, Morello, et al. are on the ice, the Buzzers create dazzling opportunities for themselves. But this skill level doesn’t extend to four lines. St. Mikes spent much of the series rolling a version of three lines just to keep up with the Dukes.

On the Wellington side of the ice, each line coming over the bench was as tough and dangerous as the next. Vreugdenhil’s line with Campbell and Smith navigating the neutral zone, then Joynt along with the Keswick twins Cutler and Strickland. Then Matheson Mason, Moskowitz and LaPalm. And as if that wasn’t enough, Roach, Langdon and Hunt storm over the boards, wreaking havoc all over the ice.

Every line finishing their checks and making the Buzzers work for every second in the Wellington zone.

GAME 1
This was a weird game. The Dukes scored 30 seconds into the game. It felt like they were setting the tone early. Another goal from Barrett Joynt a few moments later. But then a tough Buzzers’ goal—a hard shot from the left wing, top of the circle, flew through Ethan Morrow’s glove into the net. Another shot waved at four minutes later. The Dukes had dominated the game at both ends, but the game was tied at two all.

Dukes’ point man Julian Jacobs fired a shot through traffic to restore the Dukes’ lead before the first period was done. Yet early in the second, St. Mikes tied the game again. The pattern repeated. The Dukes scored (Roach), and the Buzzers responded.

But in the final moments of the second, Edward Moskowitz grabbed the puck and sailed down the wing, curled to the net and lifted a backhander into the net. This time the Dukes would not let go of the lead. Luke Strickland padded the lead midway through the third. Connor Hunt buried an empty net marker to seal the win.

GAME 2
The vast difference in the depth of each squad was in full display two nights later in Toronto. After burning everything in Wellington and still coming out on the wrong side of the scoreboard, St. Mikes had little left for their fans on Friday night.

After a half period of to-and-fro, the Dukes settled down. Two goals in the first, two more in the third and three in the final period. St. Mikes had no response. Seven goal scorers for the Dukes— each line contributing offensively and defensively. Jacob Osborne earned the shutout.

GAME 3
So it was that a desperate St. Mike’s team rolled into Wellington Sunday afternoon. They could feel they were close to Wellington at times—but never for a sustained period. But it was the Dukes who controlled the play in the early going. Then St. Mikes caught a break. A Dukes’ forward was penalized for hooking.

The Buzzers’ defencemen Matt Milic rifled a high shot on net from the top of the slot that found its way through a forest of bodies, past Osborne in the Dukes’ net. Before the period was done, however, defensive defenceman Trevor Mc- Dowell suddenly streaked down the wing, around the defender and scored. It was his first goal in the OJHL.

A pair of power play goals—from Joynt and Moskowitz—sealed the outcome. St. Mikes pulled their netminder late in the period despite being down two goals. Joynt forced a turnover in the Dukes’ zone and skated to an open wing. Fired past the empty net.

Seconds later, Joynt forced another turnover and had the chance to redeem himself. Instead, he dished the puck to Strickland to do the honours.

UP NEXT: ? ? ?
By Sunday, the Dukes had a 3-0 lead in their series, while other teams had only played a single game so far. This makes it difficult to predict who the Dukes might face next.

Should Haliburton County defeat the Toronto Patriots— as of Tuesday, the Huskies were leading the series 2-1—the Dukes would take on Haliburton. But if the Patriots prevail, Wellington would face either the Trenton Golden Hawks or the Cobourg Cougars. As of Tuesday, Trenton led their series two games to none.