Worldly

The Dukes’ Jacob Hethrington helped keep the high powered Czech Republic team at bay until his OJHL All- Stars teammates found their scoring touch. The OJHL All-Stars won the game 4-3 in a shootout. Dylan Mascarin of the Dukes scored the winning goal.

Dukes factor in a variety of junior hockey action over the past week

Judging by the exhibition game against the U.S. squad in Wellington last Friday night, and subsequent loss to the Russians on Monday, it looks to be another tough tournament for Team Canada East in the World Junior A Challenge this year. The tournament showcases some of the best junior players in the game today—and Team Canada East (TCE) is led by Dukes Luc Brown and Ben Sokay.

CANADA EAST – SWITZERLAND
Against Switzerland in the preliminary round, Brown led his team with a goal and four assists. TCE won this opening contest 8-3. The Swiss drew first blood, scoring the lone goal of the first period, but Team Canada stormed back in the second with five unanswered goals to take control of the game.

On Monday, TCE tangled with Russia—a much tougher, tighter checking opponent. Russia started slowly and the Canadians had chances, but at the end of the first period there was no score. Russia scored three times in the second and three more in the third—eventually winning the game 6-1.

CANADA EAST – TEAM USA EXHIBITION
Signs of the trouble facing TCE were evident in the exhibition game on Friday. The defending champions, Team USA, took on TCE in Wellington. And for a while, TCE skated with the hardnosed Americans—matching them check-for-check. Scoring chance for scoring chance.

Both goalies looked uneasy in their nets, each allowing a soft goal in their first couple of shots on net. But both settled down to make the opponents work for their goals.

After the first period, TCE trailed by 2-1. But as the game wore on, the Canadians were challenged to stay with the speedy and hardworking Americans. Team USA added three more goals, all unanswered, in the second period. Team Canada East should have called the mercy rule at the second period. In the third, Team USA controlled every aspect of the game as the Canadians struggled to stay competitive. The Americans were efficient—scoring four goals on 12 shots on net in the third period.

OJHL ALL-STARS – CZECH REPUBLIC
It was a better outing for the OJHL All-Stars on Friday, a team featuring four Dukes players, Dylan Mascarin, Jacob Panetta, Justin Bean and Jacob Hethrington and coached by the Dukes’ Marty Abrams.

The Czech Republic team hit the ice flying, racking up 33 shots in the first two periods. The OJHL All-stars, still trying to find their feet, managed just 15 shots. But despite the lopsided shot count, the Czechs led by just two goals.

In the third period it was the All-stars who turned the tables—snapping home two quick goals early in the period to tie the game. Late in the period, the All-stars and the Czechs traded goals and regulation time ended with a tie 3-3. The game eventually went to a shootout.

Eleven shooters were sent to centre ice. None scored. The Dukes’ Mascarin got the tap on the shoulder. Mascarin scored, winning the game for the All-stars.

It was an exhibition game—but rarely do they pack this much excitement.

DUKES – PICKERING
The Dukes finished of the 2015 portion of the season with an overtime win in Pickering— avenging a 5-4 loss to the Panthers earlier this month.

With the team’s leading scorers Brown and Sokay skating with Team Canada East it was up to others to step forward on Sunday night. Colin Doyle did just that—scoring twice, one shorthanded, in the first period to give his team the lead. Pickering scored early in the second. But Tyler Burnie responded with a power play goal shortly afterward.

Pickering tallied again before the second period buzzer sounded.

In the third, there was no scoring until the Panthers pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker. With fourteen seconds left in the game, Pickering scored to tie the game at three goals apiece.

The teams skated through the first overtime period without a goal. Just Bean scored a minute into the second overtime to win the game for the Dukes.

HOLIDAY BREAK
After the game the Dukes headed home for a long holiday break—at least those without classes to attend. The Dukes are now off until January 2 when they travel to Stouffville. They will play another road game in Trenton on January 6 before returning home on January 8 to welcome the Kingston Voyageurs.

WJAC CONTINUES
Meanwhile Team Canada East, after an off day yesterday, will likely play in one of two quarter-final games today. Neither the time nor the opponent had been determined at press time.

Follow Team Canada East on the Hockey Canada website at www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/National- Championships/Men/World-Junior-A/2015 or go to hockeycanada.ca and follow the links to the World Junior A Challenge. There you will find scores, schedule and can even watch the games.