Friendly fire

Forward Shaw Boomhower scored his second goal of the season in Friday’s home win over the Aurora Tigers. He also added to his team-leading penalty total (60 minutes) with a cross checking infraction in the game.

Former Duke leads Markham to win over Wellington

Marco Azzano and Trevor Abbot combined to score the winning goal against the Wellington Dukes on Sunday. Both once wore a Dukes jersey. Now, they are part of the newly reformed Markham junior team, the Royals. Abbot departed the Dukes in the off-season of 2014, headed for Hidalgo, Texas, to play for the Rio Grande Killer Bees. But when that team folded at the end of last season, the defenceman found a home in Markham.

Azzano played last season in Wellington, racking up 43 points—mostly on the Dukes second line. Azzano had hoped the move from Whitby to Wellington might attract more notice from NCAA schools. But when that didn’t materialize, he opted to play closer to his home in Courtice, near Oshawa. He began the season with Pickering, but moved to the Royals after eight games this season, becoming their captain.

Sunday’s meeting wasn’t a happy reunion. Midway through the game, the Dukes defenceman Carter Allen was ejected from the game for checking from behind. Then, as the period was winding down, a melee broke out. When all the gloves and sticks were picked up off the ice—two players, including the Dukes’ Luc Brown, had been assessed penalties for inciting their opponents to fight. Two others had been given fighting penalties—but the Dukes’ Chase St. Aubin got extra time as the feisty winger was deemed the instigator. Four players in one altercation—three tagged for starting it.

In any event, Brown’s former linemate, Azzano, scored 11 seconds into the power play advantage.

Brody Butt scored his first goal as a Dukes player early in the second on the power play. In the same period, Markham tallied twice more on the power play to take a 3-1 lead. Three Markham power plays. Three goals against. But late in the period, the Dukes scored their own power play goal: Brody Maracle from Ben Sokay and Brown.

On his first shift in the third, Brown scored, assisted by Dylan Mascarin and Jake Falcao, to tie the score at three goals apiece.

Late in the period, the former Dukes, Azzano and Abbot, connected to beat Olivier Lafreniere— ending the Dukes comeback.

HOME WIN AT LAST
On Friday night, the Dukes finally won their first game at home. But it didn’t come easy. The Dukes dominated the confused Aurora Tigers in the first period, with Shaw Boomhower scoring 90 seconds after the puck drop. It looked as if it might be a rout. But the Tigers eventually regained their footing and began taking the play to the Dukes. Aurora tied the score early in the second and took the lead seven minutes later.

But early in the third, Dukes forward Colin Doyle gathered up the puck in his own end rushed down the wing finding Brown with a cross-ice pass. Brown’s one-timer caught a piece of the Tiger netminder. But Sokay, ready for the rebound, swatted the puck into the net to tie the game.

The game was settled early in the second overtime period as Sokay scored, assisted by Brown.

Dukes fans and players allowed a small sigh of relief that the team’s first home win was now complete.

UP NEXT: LINDSAY
The Dukes travel to Lindsay on Friday to face former teammate Jeff Christenson. On Sunday, they welcome the Muskies in Wellington. Lindsay toils at the bottom of the North division, though they have played four fewer games than some of their rivals. Of minor note is the fact the Muskies are penalized a bit more than average, but frequently take an opposing player with them to the penalty box. Despite penalty minutes that put them above the median, Lindsay has the third lowest time spent short-handed.

LINE UP
Forward Nick DeVito has been traded to Amarillo of the NAHL.