Dukes hopefuls shine

Fans flock to DukeDome for summer evening hockey

The Wellington Dukes were greeted with a warm August reception as the faithful mostly filled the stands of the DukeDome on Sunday night. The team didn’t disappoint. The team of mostly hopefuls making the case for one of the few remaining slots on the squad simply overpowered cross-bay rivals the Trenton Golden Hawks in the second of two wins on the weekend.

Dukes netminding prospects Ryan MacDonald and Hayden McInroy kicked away all shots, save for one late goal on Friday that squeaked in just 13 seconds before the buzzer sounded to end the game.

Meanwhile the Dukes tallied eight times in the homeand- home games and never relinquished control of the game.

“I’m extremely happy with both games,” said Coach and General Manager Marty Abrams. “When you are just seconds away from back-to-back shutouts in this league, you are doing something right.”

But there is much more going on in pre-season than the outcome of the game. Choices have to be made and none are easy. These are decisions made harder by conflicting goals.

“From a team standpoint we have to pick the right players—both for the short and long term,” explained Abrams. “We also want to come out of camp healthy, and beginning to develop a team identity— defining the character of this Dukes team.”

For the players their job is to make the coach’s job as difficult as it can be. It is their moment to show that they are an essential part of the puzzle.

“They are making an argument,” said Abrams. “They are trying to make it very difficult for the coaches to go for the status quo. Others are trying to make a case for themselves—perhaps not today but perhaps later in the season and next year.”

While the perception is that the Dukes enjoy a new season with many familiar faces—and therefore fewer skates to fill—the truth is that, should a couple of prospects earn a spot on OHL rosters at the beginning of September, the Dukes may have as many as 12 positions to fill.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT

Darcy Greenaway made an immediate impression on Dukes fans on Sunday night, setting up a pair of Zach Allan goals and adding a pair of his own.

“He’s a young player who has played out of the junior hockey spotlight the last few years,” said Abrams. “He has made a ton of progress in seven days. We know there are going to be some up-anddown nights with him during the season but we are prepared to ride these out.

“We need to develop goal scorers right here in Wellington—Darcy is a guy who will score goals for us down the road. He has scored goals wherever he has gone.

“Once he settles in and gets set up in a billet house he’ll continue to get better and better.”

At Lake Forest Academy in Illinois last year, Greenway led his team with 27 points (19 goals) in 13 games.

“We know we are going to have some good nights and some bad nights with a guy like Darcy. He’s got a lot of talent. It will take some time to develop fully.”

NEW BEGINNING

For the past three Novembers Abrams has travelled to rinks to head Team Canada East in the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge—a tournament of some of the best junioraged players in the world.

In two of these tournaments he got to know and watch a young player from Longueuil, Quebec. Simon Bessette has gained a national profile as a responsible defensiveminded forward. This summer Abrams was able to attract him to Wellington with the promise of a different role.

“We hope to loosen the strings a little bit and let his offensive skills shine,” said Abrams. “Simon really impressed me during the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge with his character, personality and the way he conducted himself in the tournaments He is going to be a great addition both on and off the ice.”

HOCKEY ROYALTY

Also joining the club this week is goaltending phenom Malcolm Subban, younger brother to the Montreal Canadiens’ P.K. Subban.

“Malcolm is likely to play on Friday in Wellington,” said Abrams. “Then he is off to the Bulls camp and we have to wait and see what their plans are for him.

“In any event we are in good shape in goal. McDonald and McInroy have played well. Jordan (Ruby) is our guy. We need two—we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.”

PRE-SEASON CROWD

The parking lot was full and the benches mostly occupied in the cold rink on the summer evening—a welcome portent of an important season.

“Hopefully this is sign of what is to come in the new rink,” said Abrams. “In the meantime I expect people to come back and watch the final games in this historic building.

“Having our rivals from Trenton back in the loop is going to help as well—there were likely 100 people from Trenton in the stands on Sunday.”

DUKEDOME FRIDAY

The Dukes continue their exhibition series with the Trenton Golden Hawks in the DukeDome in Wellington on Friday night.