Powering through

Short-handed Dukes tally sixth straight win

The Dukes just keep rolling along—tallying their sixth win in as many games. It’s an achievement made more remarkable as they did so on Sunday without the services of their captain Colin Doyle, power forward Ben Evans and swiftfooted defenceman Mason Snell. All were in Toronto competing for roster position on Team Canada East.

Teddy McGeen (11) and Mitchell Martan combined for eight points and five goals in two games on the weekend. The pair sit one and two atop the Dukes leading scorers.

Instead, it was up to the remaining Dukes to step up. And they did. Impressively.

In 32 games this season, the Dukes have lost just four games in regular time. No other team in the OJHL comes even close to this measure of success. Currently Wellington sits tied for first place with Oakville; both have 49 points.

Noah Lugli is the latest addition to the Dukes blueline. He is big—6 ft. 5 in.—and quick. He moves the puck well, looks poised in his own end and finishes his checks with some oomph. He set up two goals in his first two games in a Dukes jersey. He is going to fit in nicely.

Teddy McGeen had another great performance this weekend alongside playmaking phenom Mitchell Martan. Andrew Rinaldi, subject to extra attention by the visiting Voyageurs—still sore that he chose the Dukes over their squad—was resilient to the punishment. He kept his composure and earned a pair of assists against Kingston. Dawson Ellis, Daniel Panetta and Graeme McCrory picked up where their captain left off—relentless badgers on the forecheck and tireless on the backcheck.

It was much needed on Sunday as the penalty calls came frequently and seemingly randomly.

Jonah Capriotti was exceptional. Again. He allowed just one goal on Friday—that single marker defending a two-man disadvantage. Fifty-eight minutes of shutout hockey on Sunday. Very near perfect.

DUKES 3 – WHITBY 1
Nate McDonald is a very large, and talented netminder. When he’s on—he is very difficult to beat. And, so it was on Friday.

Both teams came out flinging shots on net. But it was the Dukes who struck first. McCrory picked up the puck in the neutral zone, passing to Geoff Lawson. Drop pass to McGeen in the face-off circle. Wrist shot sailed past netminder, catching the top corner. Goal.

The Dukes had a glorious chance to extend the lead in the second on the power play. Martan slid the puck across the crease to the waiting winger. A second’s hesitation. McDonald’s pad was there to block the tap in.

Noah Lugli made an impressive debut on the Dukes blue line on the weekend. Lugli brings size and speed to his position— along with poise to use these talents well.

Near the end of the second, the game was still close. McGeen with the puck. He busted laterally between both Whitby defencemen in the mid slot area, and came out on the other side with the puck. Back on his heels and off balance, McGeen wristed a shot far corner. Spectacular goal. Dukes led 2-0. That was the game.

Whitby scored in the third with two Dukes players in the penalty box—but that was it. Panetta scored on the empty net, finishing a smart and unselfish rush by Ben Evans.

DUKES 4 – KINGSTON 2
Doyle, Evans and Snell were in Toronto. It was up to the remaining Dukes to take on the Kingston Voyageurs. Kingston was also down a pair to the Team Canada East tryouts.

The Dukes struck first. Martan broke into the Voyageurs zone with the puck. Over to McGeen. Back to Declan Carlisle. Goal.

The one-goal lead stood until late in the second period—despite an increasingly urgent forecheck by the Voyageurs. Mitch Martan turned back the tide. With astonishing speed, he pushed down the wing and then sliced toward the net. Getting caught in the trap between the netminder and the retreating defencemen, Martan still got the shot away. A back-breaking goal.

Early in the third, Carlisle released McGeen with a pass near centre ice. It must be made clear at this point, that when McGeen turns on the speed, there are few in this league or any other who can catch him.

So McGeen slid the puck ahead past the defender. He turned on the jets and streaked past the helpless Voyageur. Crossed the blueline. Alone. Picked his spot. Shot. Goal.

The Dukes had a threegoal lead.

Kingston decided—or were persuaded—at this point that they had better get into this game or it was going to slip away. With renewed vigour they managed to pin the Dukes in their own zone for uncomfortably long stretches. Capriotti was called upon to make some sensational saves.

So, when the Dukes defenceman was penalized for tripping, Kingston pulled their netminder for the twoman advantage. Goal.

Still with the net empty, Kingston poured everything they had into the Dukes zone. Another goal.

Nervous moments—but the Dukes didn’t panic. Instead Nelson Powers won the face-off. Clean. To Rinaldi. The Voyageurs swarmed him. Rinaldi slipped the puck to McGeen in the slot. Empty net goal.

Decisive win. Shorthanded. A game upon which great seasons are built.

UP NEXT: MARKHAM AND OAKVILLE
As of Tuesday morning, it was not clear who of the three participants at the Team Canada East tryouts would be headed to Truro for the next two weeks. The Dukes have shown they have the means to power through without them—but this weekend offers a particularly tough test.

On Friday, the Dukes travel to Markham. The Royals are currently second in a tough North Division. Markham is currently riding a six-game winning streak—just like the Dukes. The streak will end for one of these teams.

Markham has some powerful offensive weapons: Condatta, Jeffers, Aubin and Ouderkirk are all in the league’s top 10 in scoring. It’s a little tougher for the Royals in net—where they allow more than three goals per game. It is how they end up with lop-sided victories such as the 9-4 win against Trenton last weekend.

On Sunday, the Dukes host the Oakville Blades for the first time in three years. The Blades sit atop the South Division—though they have lost two of their last three, including a 8-1 shellacking at the hands of the Newmarket Hurricanes.

Despite the odd game that has gotten away from them, Oakville is a solid team defensively—allowing just a couple of goals per game on average.

NHL ALUMNI GAME
On Friday night, the NHL Alumni Tour visits Wellington for an evening of fun, entertainment and goodwill. Walter Gretzky serves as the coach of an unruly band of former NHLers that has in past games included such luminaries as Wendell Clark, Tiger Williams and Theo Fleury.

The Scotiabank NHL Alumni Benefit Tour supports the Special Olympics and Law Enforcement Torch Run’s mission “To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.”

Tickets are $20 available at the door.