Dukes complete comeback
Kennedy earns shutout as Eastern wins final two games vs. Western Rebels
The Eastern Dukes used a strong start and finish to win the P.E.I. under-16 AAA hockey championship.
The Dukes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the best-ofseven seven series against the Farmboys Inc. Western Rebels, then fell behind 3-2 and rallied to win the final two games, including a 5-0 win in Game 7 at Maclauchlan Arena in Charlottetown on March 29.
"It felt really good,” said Dukes goaltender Lincoln Kennedy, who recorded a 23-save shutout in the seriesclinching win. “It was a little tough we had to go to Game 7, but it felt good that we got the job done."
The Dukes now advance to the Maritime championship in Moncton, N.B., this weekend.
This marked the first year P.E.I. had two teams playing in the Nova Scotia Under-16 AAA Hockey League.
The Dukes and Rebels played a regular-season schedule against Nova Scotia and New Brunswick teams, before playing a provincial playoff series to determine P.E.I.’S representatives at the regional championship.
"All the games were close between us in the regular season,” said Kennedy. “Going to playoffs, we knew it wasn't going to be easy and a sweep. They won the three straight and we dug ourselves a hole but got out of it."
Dukes head coach Will Zafiris was not surprised the two teams required a long series.
"It was a battle, and we knew it would be back and forth,” said Zafiris.
Beckett Quinn’s goal at 8:57 of the first period proved to be all the offence the Dukes would require.
"Scoring first definitely set the tone,” said Zafiris. “It got the guys going."
Eastern led 1-0 after the first period and goals by Willem Mossey (5:18) and Conor Brothers (8:28) in the middle frame made it a 3-0 game after 40 minutes.
Mccabe (11:07) and Beckett Quinn (14:48) scored third-period goals to put the game out of reach.
"We played a really good game and the whole team played well,” said Kennedy. “We got pucks out of the zone, had good breakout passes, got pucks deep and it sounds cliché, but we did all the little things well."
Caden Zafiris (2), Mossey, Mccabe, Ethan Hansen and Sandy Macdonald added helpers for the Dukes, who finished the regular season in second place in the 11-team league with a record of 21-5-4 (won-lost-overtime losses).
The Rebels were sixth at 17-11-2.
KEY CONTRIBUTOR
Kennedy played a big role in the Dukes’ overcoming a 3-2 series deficit. The 15-year-old from Stratford stopped 39 of 40 shots in Game 6, including a penalty shot with 7:29 remaining in the third period of a 1-1 game.
The Dukes would go on to score two goals shortly after that save for a 3-1 win.
"(Game 6) was a close game,” said Kennedy. “The boys played really well and if there was a rebound out front the boys cleared it and it made my job pretty easy,” said Kennedy. "I didn't have a great start to the season, but it was good I could have a good Game 6 and 7 and get the boys the win.”