Fresh start

Dukes defender Jacob Hetherington (4) tries to keep the opposing forward deep while guarding against the pass to Erick Delaurentis (dark jersey) waiting in the slot. Joe McKeown defends the far side. Netminding prospect Matt Loveys hugs the post in net.

Dukes return to the ice

Sandals were exchanged for skates and tshirts replaced by shoulder pads as the Wellington Dukes headed back onto the ice on the weekend. This was opening weekend of training camp. About 60 players, both prospects and veterans, started the weekend. Only half will still be with the team when it takes to the ice for its second exhibition game of the 2013-14 season against Trenton tonight at the Essroc Arena in the Wellington and District Community centre.

To some who have been around the Dukes rink for many years, this season’s training camp opening weekend offered the most spirited and intense competition. Unlike recent seasons the Dukes of 2013-14 will feature many of the same faces as last year, so the competition for roles on this squad is particularly heightened.

“It is precisely what we were hoping for with just three teams competing in camp,” said Dukes GM and coach Marty Abrams. “We were looking for a quicker pace, and, for the most part, I think we saw that. I think we accomplished what we set out to do.”

Training camp is brutal sudden death competition—the winners play on, the losers go home. Fresh prospects are fighting to earn spots on the roster, veterans have to prove they deserve to stay.

“In our returning players, we are looking at their conditioning and fitness—did they come to camp ready to play?” says Abrams. “We also want to see that they’ve improved. For the most part we saw that. But we also saw great crop of rookies who are gunning for spots on the roster. I think fans are going to see some surprises on opening day.”

Only five players from last year’s team have moved on, including forwards Craig Campbell and Jan Kaminsky and netminder Matt Larose. Gritty centre Jake Marchment has been signed by Belleville. Rearguard Brody Morris is also expected to get a good look from the Bulls who are looking to rebuild a depleted lineup this season. A handful of other prospects and Dukes players will also skate with the Bulls hoping to land one of 10 openings on the Belleville roster. They include Spencer Turcotte, Luc Brown, Abbott Girduckis and Nik Coric.

Among the prospects on the ice in Wellington this weekend was Griffin McCarty, son of rugged NHLer Darren McCarty who toiled on the right wing for the Detroit Red Wings for 17 years. Griffin too will showcase his talents for the Belleville Bulls. His dad played three seasons with the Bulls from 1989 to 1992.

Joe McKeown looks to take away the passing lane from prospect Trevor Abbott.

Likely the biggest hole the Dukes have to fill is in net—with both Larose and Lavigne moving on in the off-season. Abrams says he has faced this situation virtually every training camp in Wellington.

Only the year that Jordan Ruby came back were we certain who our number one goalie would be.

“If the puck dropped today I would say it would be Lucas Michalski, an off-season pickup from Cambridge and Adam Wood who played with the Picton Pirates last season. But netminding is a performance-based role—it’s based on results. The goaltender who performs best will win the job.”

TO THE AID OF A FORMER DUKE
The Dukes skated in a benefit game on Tuesday to aid former player B.J. Ketcheson who is battling cancer at the age of 33. The Napanee native played one season with the Dukes before graduating to the Peterborough Petes. The game was played in Napanee against the Kingston Voyageurs.

CORRECTION
The Vernon Vipers are hosting the RBC Cup in 2014. Portage La Prairie will host the championship in 2015. The Times regrets the error in last week’s story.