Wild and woolly

Three wins, three adventures

He has been in Wellington for a couple of weeks now, but as of Friday, Ben Evans’ name hadn’t yet been sewn onto his jersey. Wellington Dukes fans, however, already know the young man from Thorold who wears number 14. Specifically, they know the powerful impact he is already having on this team. In six games, Evans has earned 10 points. The 18-year-old set up all four goals in the Dukes’ win against Aurora on Sunday and scored the tying goal in Cobourg on Monday. It’s not just what he is doing—it’s how he is doing it.

When Evans is on the ice, something good is usually happening for the Dukes.

Ben Evans possesses a potent mix of size, poise and playmaking ability that, taken together makes him a threat to create a scoring chance every time he steps on the ice.

One example: From the face-off on Sunday Evans scooped up the puck which had spun into the neutral zone, then he barged down the right wing collecting Aurora defencemen and forwards along the way. With a horde of Tigers in his orbit, Evans slid the puck from the corner onto the stick of Anthony Rinaldi—40 feet away. Stick to stick. Seven seconds into the game, the Dukes had the lead.

Every time he steps on the ice, Evans’ line is a threat to score. His size, power and playmaking ability opens up the ice for his linemates. Evans draws a crowd and, more often than not, emerges with the puck to create a scoring chance.

While he typically skates on a line with Rinaldi and Mitchell Mendonca, Evans makes every line he plays on perform better. Evans has set up key goals by the talented young forward Eric Uba, defenceman Keegan Ferguson and captain Colin Doyle.

Nor does he hurt his team. In six games he has put his team at a disadvantage just once—a minor penalty against Stouffville.

It’s something the younger Dukes players may wish to note—especially after they literally chirped their way into a sixth minor penalty in the game in Cobourg on Monday night.

WELCOME BACK
On Sunday, the Dukes will welcome back Marty Abrams and the Trenton Golden Hawks to Wellington. This is the first time these teams meet this season. The cross-bay rivalry had never been so rich and personal.

After a slow start, the Golden Hawks have assembled a winning record, and as of Tuesday are riding a four-game winning streak. They currently sit in second place in the East division, just behind the Wellington Dukes. And you can be certain, Abrams has set his sights on number one. Sundays tend to draw smaller crowds in Wellington, but Trenton’s rambunctious horde will be well represented.

If ever there was a Sunday game that needed a strong showing of Wellington support, this is it.

THREE GAMES, THREE WINS, THREE ADVENTURES
It was a good weekend for the Dukes. On Friday they pummelled Luca Durante—netminder for the Mississauga Chargers—with 39 shots in the first two periods. He stopped them all. There were some posts hit. And some lucky saves for- Durante, younger brother to Stefano, a star for Cobourg in their RBC Championship, now playing in the NCAA.

Jonah Capriotti was sharp in the Dukes’ net— but didn’t face any sustained assault—turning away the Chargers’ 17 shots.

The only goal of the game came late in the third period. Martan took the puck to the net, whacking at it a couple of times. It came out to Mendonca, on the edge of the fray. Whack. In the net.

On Sunday, Evans set the tone early. The Dukes overwhelmed Aurora with scoring chance after scoring chance. Capriotti was tested, however, stoning the Tigers’ leading scorer Anthony Romano on several good chances.

Then the penalties. Tripping. The Tigers tied the score at one. In total, the Dukes were forced to kill nine penalties in the game—including nearly a minute and half two-man disadvantage in the second. Despite being hobbled by penalties and draining the penalty killers, the Dukes battled through. Evans down the wing, brilliant pass to Uba. Score. Dukes take the lead back. Later in the second, Evans wins the puck near the face-off circle, spins and sends a low hard shot to Mendonca in the slot. Puck veered of his skate into the Aurora net. Goal.

Mitchell Martan works hard at both ends of the rink. Martan has 19 points, including eight goals (tied for first with Anthony Rinaldi) in 17 games this season.

In the third period, Keegan Ferguson’s hard shot from the point found its way through traffic.

The Dukes had defeated the North’s leading team in their own rink.

On Monday, the Dukes spotted the Cobourg Cougars a two-goal lead—one a power play goal. Then began a procession to the penalty box. After two periods the Cougars led 2-0. The Dukes had played short-handed for nearly half the game at that point. Twice they had given away their own power play opportunity by taking another penalty.

Things changed in the third. Turning up the speed, Graeme McCrory led a rush to the Cobourg net. Martan finished the play, tallying the Dukes first goal.

The Cobourg fans surely knew what was coming next.

Thirty-six seconds later Captain Colin Doyle barrelled down the wing. Hard shot. Save. Rebound. Evans was there to finish the play—tying the game at two.

The Dukes kept coming. Hard battles behind the Cobourg net—Mendonca made a nifty pass to Doyle poised in the slot. Hammer. Goal. The Dukes had the lead.

Still the Dukes pressed. Perhaps too hard. A few Cobourg breaks meant Capriotti had to be sharp to maintain the lead.

Mendonca scored an empty net goal. It seemed the game was over. But Cobourg potted a goal just as the buzzer sounded to end the game.

A message of sorts.

UP NEXT: PICKERING AND TRENTON
The Panthers visit Wellington on Friday night. Pickering is an improved team this season, but still struggles to win as many games as they lose. They have also played the fewest games (10) so far. But the Panthers have won more games on the road than they have in Pickering. They may be looking forward to a showdown in Wellington.