Duarte has definitely been a dandy
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
It was the first day of March, the Soo Greyhounds were leading the Sarnia Sting 2-1 in the second period of a West Division clash at GFL Memorial Gardens.
About eight minutes into the period, the home team was in the midst of trying to kill off Sarnia’s 5-on-3 power play.
Centre Mark Duarte blocked a shot in front of the Soo net and then outraced the Sting’s Ty Voit for the loose puck. The Hounds popular overage skated in alone and beat Sting netminder Nicholas Surzycia for what turned out to be a dynamic, short-handed tally.
As Voit attempted to impede Duarte, the original call had the Soo player earning a penalty shot, while sliding into Surzycia, knocking the net from its moorings as the puck entered the goal.
But upon review, the goal stood as video showed the puck had crossed the goal-line before the net was dislodged.
The Hounds went on to lose the game 4-3 in a shootout, but Duarte’s outstanding play was surely memorable.
“That’s Mark Duarte finding a way,” head coach John Dean said after the game. “That play is probably how I’ll always remember him. He willed himself into scoring that goal.”
This week, as he prepared for his final two games in a Greyhounds uniform, Duarte was asked about that particular goal, one of 20 he’s tallied this season.
“I definitely will remember that play,” said Duarte, a 20-year-old Hamilton native. “Giving my all is a big part of my game. My coach speaking that highly of me is great.”
It certainly wasn’t the only time Dean lauded the efforts of Duarte, a winger for the Hamilton Bulldogs, winners of the 2021-2022 Ontario Hockey League championship.
The six-foot-two, 190-pounder has been a leader on and off the ice for the Greyhounds, while posting a 20-28-48 stat line in 63 games.
While his plus-minus sits at minus-12, that mark is among the club’s best.
Duarte’s unwavering compete level and underrated skill set have proven to be a definite match for a club going through a rebuilding season.
“Anyone who’s been around Mark day-in-and-day-out sees what a positive influence he’s been,” said Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis. “There’s always a smile on his face, he’s had the right mindset every day and he’s been a great fit for us in terms of where we’re at. He’s been a great influence for our guys.”
Duarte’s success this season is the perfect example of work ethic and determination intersecting with opportunity. A season after winning a championship, the Bulldogs, planning to retool, elected to go in another direction.
After two seasons in Hamilton, Duarte was placed on waivers and the Hounds, after putting in a claim, were awarded his rights on Sept. 29.
In the Sault, he successfully made the switch to centre – an area of need when Owen Allard underwent early-season shoulder surgery –while providing the club with a much-needed top-six forward. Duarte, who says he’d never before played centre in the OHL, has won a solid 52 per cent of the 1,067 draws taken heading into Friday’s 7:07 p.m. start against Saginaw at the Gardens.
The season-finale is set for Sunday here against Sudbury (2:07 p.m.).
“Guys have benefitted from working with him all year as they move forward in their careers,” Raftis said of Duarte, taken by the Bulldogs in the 14th round of the 2018 Priority Selections draft. “For sure, he’s been a great addition. We were cognizant this season of not bringing in too many older guys. We wanted to see our players take a step as a younger group. He has complemented them, pushed them and helped them regroup. He’s been amazing.”
Duarte says his time in the Sault has been memorable.
“It’s been great. I couldn’t have asked for anything else, honestly,” the OHL veteran added. “I’m just glad I’ve had the opportunity to play for such a great organization.”
Duarte also said he’s “loved” playing for Dean, noting how the Soo coach has helped him transition into a broader role this season.
“He’s given me the perfect opportunity to develop my game and take it to the next level.”
But not qualifying for the playoffs has been difficult, he added.
Despite that fact, Duarte spoke of how he’s “really proud of the guys in our room. I think we gave it our all the whole year.”
In a perfect world, Duarte, who played in the Nashville Predators rookie tournament last summer, would love to sign a free agent contract with an NHL team.
He’s determined to play pro hockey next season, saying a chance to play in the American Hockey League “would be ideal.”
If not given the chance to play professionally, Duarte said he’d likely look to skate for a U Sports team, while getting his university education.
He plans to spend the summer working on his offensive game, while also looking to get bigger and stronger.
Can he make an AHL team next season?
Raftis believes Duarte is quite capable.
“He’s got the skill set, the size and he’s obviously somebody who’s super versatile,” the GM added. “Whether he’s playing centre or the wing, whether he’s killing penalties, he gives you a lot of flexibility. He’s somebody who could really open some eyes coming in on an AHL contract or coming into a rookie tournament.”
