Loosening up

Dukes roll out welcome mat to County minor hockey players

It is difficult to distill significance from early exhibition games. The play is ragged. The skaters mostly unfamiliar. Everyone is learning new roles. Some are just trying to stick with the team.

Certainly the Kingston Voyageurs presented little resistance to the Wellington Dukes in a pair of exhibition games on the weekend. The Dukes rolled over the visiting Vees on Friday in Wellington, scoring nine goals in the first two periods before easing off in the third. The Dukes won the match 10-1.

Friday’s lineup featured just three Dukes players from last season—Carter Allan, Shaw Boomhower and Austen Labelle. Allan scored twice and assisted on two more. He was a threat every time he stepped on the ice. Meanwhile the defenceman kept his own end of the ice in good order. The Vees managed just 20 shots in the game.

Boomhower earned three assists. Labelle had a goal and two assists.

Shaw Boomhower has picked up right where he left off last season, spinning, slicing and twisting through the opposing team. In two exhibition games Boomhower scored once and generated four assists.

Some new Dukes players also figured in the scoring. Forward Brendan Rylott scored a pair. Jackson Arcan scored once, added two assists. Tyler Harrison set up three and scored once. Defencemen Hunter Gunski, forward Evan Foley and Scoley Dow rounded out the Dukes scoring. Netminder Conner Ryckman earned the win.

On Saturday in Kingston, the cast was different, the outcome was about the same. Wellington scored six times without a response from the Voyageurs. Still, the Voyageurs had no response for the Dukes. Nic Mucci scored a couple, assisted on another. As did Brayden Stortz, newly acquired from Kirkland Lake.

Boomhower scored. Labelle earned a pair of assists. Defenceman Justin Bean earned an assist. Ryckman went the distance for the win—allowing just two goals. The game saw a good deal of scrappiness as frustration gripped the Voyageurs bench in front of a restless hometown crowd. Kingston earned 41 minutes in penalties. The Dukes won 6-2.

UP NEXT: TRENTON
Tonight, the Dukes visit Trenton. The Golden Hawks have played just a single exhibition game so far, one they took handily from Cornwall on Saturday, winning 6-1. Trenton travels to Wellington on Friday night. Game time is 7:30.

DUKES ROLL OUT SPECIAL WELCOME TO MINOR HOCKEY PLAYERS
The Wellington Dukes are reaching out in a major way to young hockey fans this season—offering free season passes to every player who is a member of the Prince Edward County Minor Hockey Association (PECMHA).

It’s a move that likely helps both organizations.

PECMHA president Darren Marshall says this gesture will have a meaningful impact on the kids.

“To give each child registered with the PECMHA a free entry pass into all Dukes home games will not only allow them to witness some great hockey, but also create some family time memories that will last a lifetime,” said Marshall.

Dukes coach and GM Marty Abrams anticipates further co-operation and partnerships with minor hockey in the County.

“We are thrilled that we can provide their players with a season pass for the upcoming season,” said Abrams. “We look forward to continuing to partner with our local minor hockey on various projects.”

Dukes executive president Doug Robinson describes the offer as a way to give back to a community “that has been dedicated and loyal supporters of the Wellington Dukes.