NE PLAYOFF PREVIEW - TRE (2) vs. WEL (7)
(pictured - The Trenton Golden Hawks and Wellington Dukes have a long history of rivalry and battles and this North-East Conference first round Quarter-Final match-up looks to be no different - photo credit: Amy Deroche/OJHL Images)
On paper, this series is the 2nd biggest mis-match. Trenton finished the regular season 1st in the division with 85 points, 8 behind the conference leading Aurora Tigers. The Wellington Dukes finished with 57 points and locked down the 7th seed with just days to go in the regular season. So, with that said, it can be assumed that this may be an easy series for Trenton, right? Not so fast.
The Trenton-Wellington rivalry is one that goes back many years, back as far as when Trenton’s team used to be known as the Sting (the two are different franchises). Those series used to have both team’s arenas packed to the rafters and it wasn’t uncommon to see lineups out the buildings for tickets. It usually brought out the best in both sides, and the result was some great hockey that was a treat to watch. The potential for this to happen again is there.
Traditionally, Trenton is a team that has experienced regular season success, but faltered in the playoffs. There are many reasons that people feel this happens, but at the end of the day they have had trouble winning series when it matters. They are a veteran lineup from top to bottom, with some big additions via the Western Ontario junior B ranks. Their top 3 point scorers have been in Trenton for a few years and have felt the sting of the post season loses. Between Wiffen, de Concilys and Liscio, they amounted for 240 points. They were played regularly through the season, despite the score, and many wonder if they may be worn out. The Golden Hawks have also relied on their defence corps to chip in in a big way. Last year it was Tyler Mayea, this year it’s been Christian Lloyd. Will that production still happen when teams key in on him? The biggest question mark may come in goal, though. Justin Kapelmaster posted remarkable numbers, but will he be able to handle to pressure? And, if he struggles can Riley Brown pick up the slack?
Wellington started their year rough and went through patches of great hockey and patches of rough hockey. It was a year of re-building for the Dukes who saw a high turnover number after a run to the Dudley Hewitt Cup. Traditionally, they’ve been one of the more favourable picks, but in recent years they have struggled to get out of the opening round (2 defeats by Kingston, 1 by Cobourg). Rivalries can often bring out team’s best games, and County hockey fans hope this is the case. If it’s not, will it be the team that got blown out by Trenton weeks ago? Joe McKeown and Abbott Girduckis would be the obvious keys for the Dukes, but they’ll likely be neutralized given their point production. It’ll have to be their 3rd and 4th line guys that chip in with big efforts to spark the upset. Like Trenton, there is also a question in goal. Daniel Potter will have to keep his emotions in check for the Dukes to be successful. He can’t get wrapped up in the rivalry. If he’s not able to, the job will fall to Lafreniere. Olivier Lafreniere is a 16 year old, and a series like this is a lot of pressure on a young net minder. There are a lot more questions on the Wellington side, than there is with Trenton. The one edge I would give Wellington is in their ability to be disciplined, a trademark of Dukes hockey.
On paper, this series is the 2nd biggest mis-match. Trenton finished the regular season 1st in the division with 85 points, 8 behind the conference leading Aurora Tigers. The Wellington Dukes finished with 57 points and locked down the 7th seed with just days to go in the regular season. So, with that said, it can be assumed that this may be an easy series for Trenton, right? Not so fast.
The Trenton-Wellington rivalry is one that goes back many years, back as far as when Trenton’s team used to be known as the Sting (the two are different franchises). Those series used to have both team’s arenas packed to the rafters and it wasn’t uncommon to see lineups out the buildings for tickets. It usually brought out the best in both sides, and the result was some great hockey that was a treat to watch. The potential for this to happen again is there.
Traditionally, Trenton is a team that has experienced regular season success, but faltered in the playoffs. There are many reasons that people feel this happens, but at the end of the day they have had trouble winning series when it matters. They are a veteran lineup from top to bottom, with some big additions via the Western Ontario junior B ranks. Their top 3 point scorers have been in Trenton for a few years and have felt the sting of the post season loses. Between Wiffen, de Concilys and Liscio, they amounted for 240 points. They were played regularly through the season, despite the score, and many wonder if they may be worn out. The Golden Hawks have also relied on their defence corps to chip in in a big way. Last year it was Tyler Mayea, this year it’s been Christian Lloyd. Will that production still happen when teams key in on him? The biggest question mark may come in goal, though. Justin Kapelmaster posted remarkable numbers, but will he be able to handle to pressure? And, if he struggles can Riley Brown pick up the slack?
Wellington started their year rough and went through patches of great hockey and patches of rough hockey. It was a year of re-building for the Dukes who saw a high turnover number after a run to the Dudley Hewitt Cup. Traditionally, they’ve been one of the more favourable picks, but in recent years they have struggled to get out of the opening round (2 defeats by Kingston, 1 by Cobourg). Rivalries can often bring out team’s best games, and County hockey fans hope this is the case. If it’s not, will it be the team that got blown out by Trenton weeks ago? Joe McKeown and Abbott Girduckis would be the obvious keys for the Dukes, but they’ll likely be neutralized given their point production. It’ll have to be their 3rd and 4th line guys that chip in with big efforts to spark the upset. Like Trenton, there is also a question in goal. Daniel Potter will have to keep his emotions in check for the Dukes to be successful. He can’t get wrapped up in the rivalry. If he’s not able to, the job will fall to Lafreniere. Olivier Lafreniere is a 16 year old, and a series like this is a lot of pressure on a young net minder. There are a lot more questions on the Wellington side, than there is with Trenton. The one edge I would give Wellington is in their ability to be disciplined, a trademark of Dukes hockey.
FAST POINTS:
REGULAR SEASON:
Trenton: 41-10-2-1 85 Pts., 268 GF, 131 GA, 1007 PIM
Wellington: 27-24-0-3 57 Pts., 187 GF, 172 GA, 625 PIM
REGULAR SEASON SERIES
10/03/14 Wellington-5 @ Trenton-2
11/21/14 Trenton-3 @ Wellington-4 OT
12/19/14 Wellington-0 @ Trenton-8
01/23/15 Trenton-5 @ Wellington-1
01/28/15 Wellington-3 @ Trenton-11
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Trenton-Justin Kapelmaster 29-7-1, 3 SO, 2.09 GAA, .925%
Wellington: Daniel Potter 6-4, 3.41 GAA, .900%
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Wellington: Joe McKeown, Abbott Girduckis, Marco Azzano, Jacob Panetta
Trenton: Zach de Concilys, Danny Liscio, Christian Lloyd, Brady WiffenTrenton: 41-10-2-1 85 Pts., 268 GF, 131 GA, 1007 PIM
Wellington: 27-24-0-3 57 Pts., 187 GF, 172 GA, 625 PIM
REGULAR SEASON SERIES
10/03/14 Wellington-5 @ Trenton-2
11/21/14 Trenton-3 @ Wellington-4 OT
12/19/14 Wellington-0 @ Trenton-8
01/23/15 Trenton-5 @ Wellington-1
01/28/15 Wellington-3 @ Trenton-11
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Trenton-Justin Kapelmaster 29-7-1, 3 SO, 2.09 GAA, .925%
Wellington: Daniel Potter 6-4, 3.41 GAA, .900%
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Wellington: Joe McKeown, Abbott Girduckis, Marco Azzano, Jacob Panetta
Trenton: Zach de Concilys, Danny Liscio, Christian Lloyd, Brady Wiffen
Allan Etmanski covers the OJHL East Division for In The O... and more articles by the author can be found at intheoradio.com. In The O...goes beyond conventional coverage of junior hockey providing unprecedented coverage of Minor Midget, OJHL, CCHL and the OHL.
