Rebound

After playing for the Belleville Bulls on Friday evening Goaltender Charlie Graham (above) picked up his first Junior ‘A’ win in his first game on Sunday evening facing 34 shots, as Dukes defeated Vaughan Vipers 5-2.

Dukes recover from poor opening game

Not since 2005 have the Wellington Dukes endured defeat in their season opener at home. It was not the start this team wanted.

If was the first season opener in the new arena. The banners trumpeting the team’s successful season—including the Dudley Hewitt Cup—were revealed by team owner Michael Mulvihill and President Doug Robinson.

By the time the puck dropped the Dukes had already played 13 games—covering some 2,400 kilometres en route. The visiting Cobourg Cougars had played just two exhibition games.

The Dukes might have assumed Cobourg was still rusty. They weren’t. Like most teams that come into Wellington, the Cougars had an extra jump in their step—motivated to compete well against the Dukes in front of their can-jangling hometown crowd.

Team Captain Simon Bessette says his team came out flat in the first period and never recovered.

“It was very disappointing game,” said Bessette. “We wanted to play well for the large home crowd. We came out better in the second period but we ran into penalty trouble and the momentum slipped away.

“We will have to fix that up—so far we haven’t been as disciplined as we need to be.”

The Dukes will also have to improve in their defensive zone coverage—as too many loose pucks were allowed to languish around the goal mouth, providing easy pickings for the Cobourg forwards.

Wellington Dukes team captain Simon Bessette during Friday’s game against Cobourg.

The Cougars’ first goal started as a shot from the point while on a power play. Marc Nother made the stop but the rebound loitered in the crease until the Cougars swatted it past the Dukes netminder.

The Dukes had to fend off a twoman disadvantage late in the period but then gave up a long break to Cobourg forward Evan Jasper who beat Nother for a two-goal lead.

The Dukes came alive in the second period but a pair of penalties worked against the momentum. Nevertheless Darcy Murphy was the recipient of a slick three-way passing play while on the power play. Murphy slammed the puck into the yawning net—finally getting the Dukes crowd on their feet.

The Dukes continued to press in the third but couldn’t beat Cougar netminder Keinan Brown. Cobourg added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Bessette said the team gathered for practice on Saturday with a specific goal in mind.

“We wanted to respond on Sunday,” said the captain. “We wanted to make a statement to our fans.” The message came across loud and clear.

The Vaughan Vipers played well into the OJHL quarterfinals last season and had acquitted themselves well at the Woodchuck tournament in Vermont. The Dukes were determined not to lose two at home to begin the season—but the Vipers weren’t going to be pushovers.

Wellington dominated the ice from the drop of the puck—largely penning the Vipers in their own zone. Hard work by Jan Kaminsky along the boards resulted in a penalty called against a frustrated Vipers player.

Crafty centreman Craig Campbell stuffed home the power play goal to give his team the lead.

In the second period it was the rookie line of Erick Delaurentis, Jackson Howe and Cole Bolton that lit up the scoreboard.

“Before the game on Sunday [Dukes Coach Marty Abrams] told the team that we need some momentum from that line,” said Bessette. “If we could give some good hard shifts from these young guys it would push some of the older guys.

Dukes rookie Erick Delaurentis kicks it up a notch scoring one of the two goals he would get along with two assists during the 5-2 win over the Vaughan Vipers.

“I think they stepped up perfectly. They worked hard. Put the puck on net. Skated hard to the net. They played hockey 101 and it paid off for them. They offered a great example. If the rest of team plays like that we shouldn’t have any problem this season”.

Three minutes into the period Delaurentis fired a laser top corner from just inside the face-off circle on a feed from Cole Bolton. The Vipers goaltender had no chance. The very next shift the line nearly capitalized again. Their energy and speed pushed the Vipers back on their heels. Bolton forced a turnover deep in the zone and teed up Delaurentis in the midslot. His shot sailed past the defenceless goaltender.

On the next shift Delaurentis fired a low bullet from the corner on net just as linemate Jackson Howe tipped the puck into the net. It was a three-goal outburst from a line that was urged to lead the team with energy.

But before the period was over the Dukes gave up a couple of ugly goals— the first a breakaway by a Viper at the end of a penalty kill. The Dukes defender failed to notice the forward lurking at the blueline until it was too late. A slick close-in shot over Charlie Graham’s blocker ended the young netminder’s shutout attempt. Moments later a harmless shot from the boards slipped through his pads. An awkward couple of moments in an otherwise strong game for Graham.

In the third Delaurentis earned his fourth point of the game, feeding Richard Stethem at the Vipers’ goalmouth.

“The game went pretty well on Sunday,” said Bessette. “We played 60 minutes. Coach was pretty happy. I thought we played pretty well. The key was playing the full game instead of just showing up for two periods. We have to work on our defensive zone coverage. But it is still September; we have plenty of time to fix some of these things.”

UP NEXT: KINGSTON, LINDSAY, WHITBY, PETERBOROUGH
The Dukes have a busy schedule over the next week playing four games over six nights.

On Thursday they travel to Kingston. The Vees have struggled so far, losing both of their opening games to Trenton and Lindsay.

On Friday the Dukes host the Muskies at home. Lindsay is 3-0 so far in the young season—downing Cobourg by a convincing 4-1 score on Monday night. Sunday the Dukes visit Whitby to tangle with the Fury. Predicted to be a contender this season, Whitby is 2-2 in four games.

On Tuesday the Dukes travel to Peterborough. The Stars have struggled in the early going dropping both of its opening two games.

NEW AQUISITION
Defenceman Wil Healey has been sidelined by a concussion suffered in Vermont. On Saturday the Dukes acquired defenceman Donovan Gardiner from the Cornwall Colts. The Detroit native played for couple of seasons with the Carleton Place Canadians.

“He’s an offensive defenceman,” says team Captain Simon Bessette. “He is going to bring us another dimension on the powerplay but he will also give us some options as forwards in the offensive zone.”