Filling role

Rugged forward Joe McKeown pays the price for lingering in front of the Trenton net last Wednesday in Wellington.

Dukes prepare for preseason test in Vermont

When the Wellington Dukes travel to Vermont tomorrow there will be a lot of new faces on the bus. Only about a dozen players from last year’s squad will be aboard.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Only three players—Craig Campbell, Jan Kaminsky and netminder Matt Larose—were ineligible to return to junior hockey. But a combination of factors has seen the Dukes roster depleted in the last few weeks. Netminder Hayden Lavigne opted to play in the U.S.. So did defender Dominic Nitti. Some just want to play closer to home. Twentyyear- old defenceman Josh Finkelstein is looking to finish his junior career in British Columbia—nearer his California family. Cam Nicoll was released so that he can play with a team closer to his Barrie home.

Meanwhile the Belleville Bulls have signed two of the Dukes grittiest players from last season—Jake Marchment and Brody Morris. The Bulls also continue to take a long look at forward Spencer Turcotte.

That comprises eight roles the Dukes fans might have hoped would be set for this Dudley Hewitt Cup season. But that is the way it rolls in junior hockey.

Dukes coach and general manager Marty Abrams says this what he has come to expect with each new season.

“It’s just a continuation,” said Abrams.

But that doesn’t make the challenge any easier.

“Our top goal scorers and both goalies are gone, so, yes, I think the holes are significant,” said the coach.

A few new faces have appeared at practice this week. Abrams tapped into the Greater Ontario League again to take a look at Cody Filson a 17-year old centre who played for the London Knight midget squad last season. Last week Filson skated in the Mississauga OHL camp.

Lucas Machalski has looked sharp in the two preseason games he has played.

Netminder Lucas Machalski, defenceman Andrew Coupland and forward Cory Gratton, all from last year’s GOJHL Cambridge Winter Hawks are adjusting well to the OJHL.

In particular, Gratton has stood out in the Dukes preseason—showing some of the talent that propelled him to 58 points in 51 games with the Winter Hawks last season.

“Gratton has really impressed me with his vision and creativity,” said Abrams.

The Dukes travel to South Burlington this weekend to take on Boston, New Jersey, Bay State and the Islanders Premier Club. They return to open the regular season in Kingston on Friday September 12. On Friday they visit Trenton and are in Pickering on Sunday.

The Dukes home opener is set for Friday September 20 when the Dukes will take on the Georgetown Raiders.