Winning ways

Dukes unbeaten in four games

The Wellington Dukes had no business in Friday’s game against Cobourg. The Cougars will host the RBC Cup in the spring and as such the team is older, bigger and packed with talent. And through the first period, it looked as though the Dukes might not make it out of their zone.

The Cougars worked the puck low, along the boards, back to the point, a shot through traffic on net. Over and over again, the cycle repeated itself. But midway through the first period, Nic Mucci broke through the neutral zone. Along with Brayden Stortz, Nathan MacDuff and Brent House, they manufactured a terrific scoring chance. But the Cobourg netminder Drew Scites managed to kick it away. Not done, Stortz picked up the loose puck, swung around the net and deposited it into the far side.

The Essroc Centre fans exploded. Connor Ryckman and the Dukes’ defence corps had endured a withering attack, long enough to enable their crafty forwards to find Cobourg’s weakness. Suddenly the Dukes had more energy to push back another Cobourg attack.

The Cougars pelted Ryckman with 21 shots in the first period—the Dukes mustered six. But the score was 1-0 for the Dukes.

In the second period, Stortz and Mucci combined again to extend the Dukes’ lead. Stortz is a terrier in the corners and on the backcheck. If he is near you, he is likely going to take the puck away. That is precisely what he did to the two Bunyanesque Cougars while killing a penalty deep in the Cobourg end. Stealing the puck, Stortz slid it through a third defender into the slot where Mucci was waiting. Mucci doesn’t miss from this range. The Dukes had a two-goal lead. Cobourg was in shock.

Connor Ryckman has been stellar in his first four outings with a GAA of 2.22 and save percentage of .936. The Dukes have won all four games.

When the Cougars scored a few moments later on the power play, it seemed as though the Dukes’ good work might be undone by penalties. With renewed vigour, the RBC hosts pressed the attack. But only 51 seconds later, Mucci and Stortz had again unlocked the Cobourg defence. Stortz put the puck on linemate House’s stick. He snapped it just under the bar.

Cobourg scored another power play goal just two minutes later. Again, Stortz, Mucci, and House combined seconds later to restore the Dukes two-goal lead. With the Cougars reeling, Jackson Arcan scored for the Dukes.

That was it for Cobourg netminder Scites. Veteran Stephano Durante came into restore order. And he did. But by then the Dukes had figured out how to create scoring chances against this much bigger team. Meanwhile, Ryckman was turning away the torrent of shots—the Dukes’ defence keeping most of the shooters on the perimeter.

With more than three minutes remaining in the game, Cobourg figured they might be able to rebound from a three-goal deficit if they pulled their netminder. It was a bad idea, revealed within seconds.

Mucci collected the puck off the face off. Over to Stortz. Ahead to House skating up the left wing. A wrist shot into the open net. His third goal of the game.

The Cougars would score one more before the end of the period—but without celebration. It would be a quiet bus ride back to Cobourg. Despite outshooting the Dukes 51- 29, the Cougars went home with a 6-3 loss— their first of the young season.

It was the third win for the Dukes in three games. It is a remarkable way to begin any season, but particularly so when the team is populated by so many new faces.

Dukes coach and general manager Marty Abrams credits the returning players with instilling a culture of hard work and tenacity among the players new to the team.

“We have incredible leadership from our veterans and the team chemistry has been outstanding,” said Abrams. “This coupled with outstanding goaltending has really got us off to a good start.”

DUKES 5-MILTON 2
It was a thinner crowd on a sunny Sunday afternoon to see the Dukes entertain the Milton Icehawks. Milton has struggled in recent years, but there is no way to measure a team in a new season until you play them.

Things started badly for Milton. The Dukes’ Keegan Ferguson scored just 28 seconds into the game—from Evan Foley and Colin Doyle.

But after that, the game settled down. For a time in this game, it seemed the reverse of Friday’s match. This feeling was amplified when Milton scored later in the period—tying the game at one goal apiece. The Dukes vastly outshot the Icehawks but failed to see that that reflected in the score.

That changed quickly in the second period. Stortz, Mucci, and House combined for two quick goals. Moving the puck well, this line looked as though they might turn this game into a rout.

But the Milton netminder Will Rawksi was good. Very good. Stopping shots with every part of his body—often in rapid succession.

With the third period growing old, however, Mucci, Stortz, and House beat Rawski a fourth time. Stortz added another unassisted a moment later.

In the waning minutes of the game, Milton added a late goal. But the outcome of this game was sealed nearly two periods earlier.

The Dukes’ top line of Mucci, Stortz and House have brought creative, tic-tac-toe passing back to the Wellington faithful. It is exhilarating to watch these players work and create scoring chances from thin air.

Yet it is the diligent forecheck and digging by the Dukes’ line of Doyle, Austin Labelle and the speedy Foley that is forcing other teams to ensure they have an effective response to the Dukes other potent offensive threat.

Labelle, in particular, appears eager on each shift to tangle with much-larger defenders.

“There is no doubt that Doyle’s line is an important ingredient to any success we have this season,” said Abrams. “I thought over the weekend they got better as each period went on. They are very aggressive on the forecheck and extremely responsible defensively.”

LINEUP
Carter Allen was sidelined on Sunday due to a lowerbody injury. The Dukes’ defenceman is expected back in the lineup for Thursday’s game in Newmarket.

Mackenzie Warren was back on Sunday after an extended audition with the Owen Sound Attack. The young defender played exceptionally well as an affiliated player late last season.

“We were thrilled to sign Warren,” said Abrams. “He was outstanding for us last season when called upon and this season he brings mobility and great hockey sense to our defence corps. He will be used in all situations and I expect great things from him.”

UP NEXT: NEWMARKET AND BURLINGTON
The Dukes travel to Newmarket to face the two-andtwo Hurricanes on Thursday. They return home to Wellington to face the Burlington Cougars on Friday. Burlington leads the West Division with three wins, a loss and a tie.