Wobbly weekend

Dukes struggle to score as they drop two games of four on the weekend

Zack Jones barrels towards the Lindsay netminder with defenders in tow. Jones was unable to score on the attempt but added another late in the game.

Did the Russians steal the Dukes’ intensity?

After a long Christmas break the Wellington Dukes entertained a capacity crowd in a new rink last week with a most entertaining match against a stronger, older and more polished team of Russian all-stars.

The Dukes managed to limit the visiting team to five goals—one of those an empty netter—while scoring a pair of their own. Most other challengers had been dismantled early by the Red Stars and left in pieces by the visiting squad. The Dukes, however, battled on every shift and every inch of the ice to contain this superior squad and keep the game close.

In the end the appreciative crowd cheered mightily fortheir young warriors.

BACK TO WORK

Four days later, fans came to the rink expecting a similar exhibition of skill and determination in a game against Kingston, the team they will likely need to play through in order to move on to the next conference in the playoffs.

These fans went home disappointed. The hockey was much less inspiring, as was the result.

Kingston opened up a three-goal lead before two periods had been played. Wellington outshot and for the most part outplayed Kingston in these periods, but couldn’t solve the Voyageurs’ latest auditioner as the team’s goaltender, Wendell Vye.

A moment later Sean Rudy got the Dukes on the scoreboard and the team was back on track. But the second period buzzer rang and the Dukes hadn’t made any additional headway. In the third, each team mustered a meagre six shots on goal, as Kingston skated home with the road win and Wellington settled for a tough loss at home.

SQUEAKING BY DIXIE

On Saturday Zach Blake opened the scoring in Etobicoke with a penalty shot goal. But before the period was over, Dixie had evened the score at one. In the second, Blake and Brian Bunnett scored to open a twogoal lead while Dixie tallied another. Sean Rudy scored yet another late in the third to seal the win for the Dukes.

Saturday’s game proved to be another struggle to put the puck behind the netminder as the Dukes outshot the Beehives 45-22.

DEFENSIVE LAPSE

On Sunday the Dukes allowed the Lindsay Muskies to jump out to a 4-1 lead by the end of the first period. The normally rock solid Jordan Ruby allowed an innocent point shot past him low on the short side before a minute had elapsed in the game. Then Joe Zarbo scooped up a rebound of a Brian Barletta rocket, spun around and lofted a highball over the prone Lindsay netminder.

Captain Sean Rudy scored twice and helped on another pair of goals in four games on the weekend.

But then a series of defensive lapses allowed the Muskies to score the next four goals. Sean Rudy and Zack Jones added third-period goals, but by then it was too late. The Muskies won their second straight game against the Dukes. Lindsay is likely looking forward to their next visit to the Wellington and District Community Centre on Jan. 23.

Once again the Dukes outshot their opponent but came up short on the goal sheet.

SHOOTOUT WIN

On Monday the Dukes headed down the 401 to Cobourg to take on the third-place Cougars.

After three regulation periods the teams were tied at one goal apiece—the Dukes’ goal coming from the stick of Joe Zarbo. In the overtime period both teams were assessed minor penalties but neither could break the deadlock.

In the shootout no Cobourg sniper could beat Ruby. Brian Bunnett was able to fool Mathieu Cadieux to salvage the win and two points.

The Dukes ended a tough four-game stretch with two wins and two losses—not nearly good enough this late in the season.

WAKE-UP CALL

Dukes Coach and General Manager Marty Abrams said the weekend’s results should be a wake-up call for his team.

“We played against three division teams that were good,” said Abrams.”We’ve been saying all along just how good this division is and so far we haven’t had to play a lot of division games—now we are seeing just how strong the east is.

“In both our losses on the weekend I thought we outchanced our opposition but we were unable to finish. We didn’t bury our chances. That will have to change if we hope to have success in this division.”

The weekend games also revealed some uncharacteristic defensive lapses.

“We knew that going into a larger ice surface would require an adjustment in our defensive coverage,” said Abrams, “and I think we are still trying to find our way.

There are no excuses—we have been there long enough now—but we’ve got to get better.”

NEW FACES

Seventeen year-old forward Braden Kavaratzis has joined the Dukes from the Sarnia Legionnaires.

The Dukes added three new players in advance of the Jan. 10 trade deadline. They are defenceman Elliott Richardson, forward Braden Kavaratzis and goaltender Craig Rylett. Forward Zach Allen was traded to Hawkesbury of the Central Hockey League to make room on the Dukes roster.

“Elliott Richardson played in Lindsay last year but was hurt most of the season,” said Abrams. “He was traded in the summer to Vernon and just before Christmas traded to Quesnel. He didn’t want to play in Quesnel—so we picked him up from Quesnel.

“We found with the injury to Brandon Mcintosh that we were too vulnerable in the back end. Richardson adds some depth and experience and he’s just 19 so he has another year of junior eligibility.”

Braden Kavaratzis is a rugged two-way player who scored 15 goals in 43 games as a 16-year-old with the Toronto Junior Canadians last season. Now a 17 year old (who looks like he might be 30) Kavaratzis is a prospect of the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. This season he had been toiling with the Sting affiliate Sarnia Legionnaires where he had 19 points in 24 games.

“We are optimistic that if he doesn’t make the Sting next year, we have ourselves a pretty good hockey player,” said Abrams.

The Dukes also added a seasoned goalie to support Jordan Ruby.

“Craig Rylett is a veteran guy who wants to be a part of what we are doing here in Wellington,” said Abrams. “He played a couple years ago for Cobourg and I remember him coming in here one game and standing on his head against us. “I thought he played really well on Saturday in Dixie and played well in relief on Sunday.

“He is a veteran guy who knows his role and wants to be here.”

THE PAT McEACHEN WATCH

With the trade deadline for both the OHL and OJHL passing this week the chances of Pat McEachen returning to a Dukes uniform this season are dimming, but not entirely extinguished. In order for him to play for the Dukes the Mississauga Majors will have to release him and then he would have to clear waivers. The chances of either event seems more remote with each passing day. But as long as there remains a chance, albeit a small one, Abrams is keeping his options open.

“We are keeping a vacant Junior ‘A’ card open for him after the 10th—just in case.”

UP NEXT: PETERBOROUGH AND TRENTON—HOME AND AWAY

Peterborough has every incentive to come into Wellington with guns blazing in an attempt to steal a win on Friday. A two-point win would pull the Stars within five points of the first-place Dukes. AWellington win, however, will widen the gap by nine points. A lot is on the line for both teams.

Meanwhile Trenton is battling for a playoff spot and their performance over the next week or so will likely determine their fate. The Golden Hawks have beaten very good teams including the Dukes but have not played well consistently.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” said Abrams looking at the schedule over the next week. “We have to find our game soon. Our intensity level has to pick up this week. We have to battle for the puck. There are no excuses.”

Wellington’s lead atop the East Division could evaporate quickly if his players don’t heed this message.