Fast and furious

Jacob Hethrington scored a key goal and lent an important physical presence to Friday’s win at home against Pembroke.

Dukes in good shape to start another season

The Dukes wrapped up a five-game preseason schedule with a 7-2 win over the Lumber Kings in Pembroke on Sunday night. Shaw Boomhower and Brodie Maracle each had a three-point game—both forwards scored twice and added an assist to set the pace for the win. It was much tamer and more civilized affair in Pembroke than it was in Wellington two nights earlier—just 12 minutes in penalties compared with 182 on Friday.

The victory gave the Dukes a 4-1 record through the exhibition schedule, their only loss coming at the hands of the Golden Wings in Trenton on Saturday.

The Dukes’ defensive play at both ends of the rink has been impressive throughout the exhibition season. On Saturday, the Dukes kept the Golden Wings off the scoreboard for over half the game. But unlike its other preseason matches, the young Dukes failed to capitalize on their chances. Trenton took the lead on the power play. They tightened up. The Dukes pushed, but the Golden Wings

seized upon Wellington’s vulnerabilities. Two more Trenton goals in the third and the Dukes were handed their first loss.

HOME VICTORY
On Friday night, Wellington welcomed Pembroke to the Essroc Centre. But even before the game began, the pleasantries for the visiting league representatives were cast aside. Three Pembroke players were cited for chinstrap violations and sent to spend the first ten minutes of the game in the penalty box. OJHL fans will remember the rule that players must have their helmet on and chinstrap done up during the warm-up. It has been strictly enforced, particularly in the preseason, for the past two years. But not so much in the CCHL.

But that was just the beginning of a long night for scorekeeper Kevin Dolson. It was, at times, a crowded Pembroke penalty box. The Dukes gave up an early goal, but Luc Brown tied up the score while shorthanded. The Lumber Kings are a bigger, older team. The Dukes, younger and faster.

As the game wore on, Pembroke struggled to keep pace. The penalties followed soon after. Veteran defenceman Jacob Hethrington scored from a bad angle—more just a shot on net then a scoring attempt, but a goal nonetheless. The Lumber Kings dominated with physical play in the second period, but Austin Washkarak demonstrated why Dukes general manager and coach Marty Abrams traded for the 20-year-old. He was calm, well positioned and coughed up very few rebounds.

Speedster Greg Smith flew around the flatfooted Pembroke defence for a pair of goals—one late in the second, another in the third period to seal the win before an appreciative crowd of hometown fans.

The ugliest bit came near the end of the game as the players jostled after the whistle—more posturing and trash talking than anything. Suddenly the Lumberking’s 200-lb thug, Cameron Hughes, slugged the Dukes defenceman Jacob Panetta. Suckered. Panetta’s hands had been at his side. After the punch, he lay still on the ice. Luc Brown jumped in making Hughes pay. After a long time, Panetta finally got to his feet and skated off the ice—leaving a red stain for the arena crew to clean up. Later, the refereeing crew decided Panetta had speared Hughes. It was that kind of game.

UP NEXT: TRENTON AND ORANGEVILLE
The Dukes’ first five games of the regular season, getting underway this weekend, are on the road. By then, decisions will have been made regarding the handful of Dukes’ players trying out with OHL clubs.

The closest the Dukes will be to Wellington until September 18, is the team’s season opener in Trenton on Friday night. On Saturday, the team travels to Orangeville.