Beefed-up Hutton ready for regular role
After playing in 14 games with the Petes last season, forward added some grit to his game over the summer
Dustin Hutton got a taste of life with the Peterborough Petes last season and now he wants the full meal.
He ate a lot more meals and hit the gym this summer adding 15 pounds after the Petes told him to bulk up. He played 10 regular season and four playoff games for the Petes last season.
The club’s top pick in the 2018 U18 draft, Hutton led all players through three training camp scrimmage sessions with six goals and two assists. He also scored in Wednesday afternoon’s Maroon and White game rallying Maroon from a 5-1 deficit to a 7-6 lead. White scored three unanswered goals to win 9-7 at the Evinrude Centre.
“The main goal was to get bigger and stronger,” Hutton said.
“They want me to play with a bit more grit, too, and be tougher in the summer. I tried my best in the summer and it seems to be helping.”
Hutton has shown offensive ability at every level he’s played, but has to prove he can do it in the OHL.
“Making the team is my first goal and my second goal is to have a role on the team and be a leader in the room,” he said.
“We told Dusty he had to put some size on and he knew that he had to get stronger,” said Petes head coach Rob Wilson.
“It makes a big difference because he has great vision, skates well and moves the puck well. The skill level is there.
“He’s had a great start to camp and he has an opportunity this weekend to go into exhibition games with confidence and feeling good about himself. It’s early days, but he’s definitely made an impression on the coaching staff.”
Cameron Butler led White to victory with two goals and an assist, while Ellis Rickwood scored twice, Carter Schoonderwoerd had a goal and assist and Matt McNamara, Mason McTavish and Max Grondin also scored. Liam Kirk had two assists with singles to Caleb Minns, Owen Robertson and Joey Studnicka. Ben Edwards stopped 13 of 15 shots and Kyle Curtin 22 of 27 in the White net.
Eli Palfreyman scored twice for Maroon and Curtis Trolley had a goal and assist while Zach Gallant, J.R. Avon and Colin Patey also scored. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev had three assists with singles to Will Everson, Tucker Robertson, Dario Tesoro and Artem Guryev. Tye Austin stopped 16 of 21 shots and Michael Simpson 17 of 21 for Maroon.
Following morning scrimmages the Petes reassigned 12 players including Ryan Cutler (Central Ontario Major Midget AAA Wolves), Jax Dubois (Nepean U18 AAA Raiders), Bode Dunford (Central Ontario Major Midget AAA Wolves), Alex Ferrier (TBA), Calum Haslam (Toronto Major Midget AAA Red Wings), Judd Katz (North York Major Midget AAA Rangers), Brennan Kennedy (Halton Major Midget AAA Hurricanes), Jakson Kirk (Elmira Junior B Sugar Kings), Benjamin Loreto (Brampton Junior B Bombers), Nicholas Paone (Fort Erie Junior B Meteors), Oliver Webster (TBA) and Riley Wood (Strathroy Junior B Rockets).
Following the Maroon and White game, 14 players were reassigned including Aaron Chiarot (Brantford Junior A 99ers), Kyle Curtin (St. Mary’s Junior B Lincolns), Sean Fortier (Pembroke Junior A Lumber Kings), Cade Helmer (Smiths Falls Junior ‘A’ Bears), Andrew Horsley (Georgetown Junior ‘A’ Raiders), Caleb Minns (Aurora Junior A Tigers), Eli Palfreyman (Kitchener Junior B Dutchmen), Ellis Rickwood (Hamilton Kilty B’s), Owen Robertson (Waterloo Junior B Siskins), Carter Schoonderwoerd (St. Mary’s Junior B Lincolns), Joey Studnicka (London Junior B Nationals), Dario Tesoro (TBA), Jacob Verner (Peterborough Major Midget AAA Petes) and Carter Vollett (Kemptville Junior A 73s).
NOTES: Camp continues Thursday with practices at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The team will participate in the Kitchener Rangers Showcase Tournament starting Friday at 2 p.m. when they face the Saginaw Spirit. They play the North Bay Battalion 2 p.m. Saturday and Rangers 2 p.m. Sunday.