Kingston Frontenacs GameDay January 16, 2016

Hometown boy; it’s a term we’re all
familiar with. Every week during the
hockey season, Kingstonians hunker
down to watch Coach’s Corner on Hockey
Night in Canada with a rink full of pride as
one of their own, Donald “Grapes” Cherry
rhymes off names like Muller, Gilmour,
McClement and Hall as “good Kingston
boys.” We’ve also heard Grapes bemoan the
lack of local talent on NHL teams like the
Toronto Maple Leafs.
The idea that an athlete raised in a
particular city would have the opportunity to
stay and play for his hometown team is less
and less common in these days of signing
bonuses and super agents. Fortunately for
Kingston as an OHL city, residents don’t
have to worry about salary caps and free
agents. Most of the time, if young players
are drafted or traded here, they play here.
This year, thanks to General Manager
Doug Gilmour’s continuing commitment to
local talent, the 2015/2016 edition of the
Kingston Frontenacs boasts two bona-fide,
dyed-in-the-Limestone-City-wool, hometown
boys–Ryan Verbeek and Chad Duchesne
Separated by just a year, the 19-yearold
Verbeek and the 20-year-old Duchesne
didn’t play minor hockey together but they
did have similar upbringings and both felt
the draw of the Black and Gold. “Growing
up I remember going to the old Memorial
Centre and watching the Fronts,” said
Verbeek. “My favourite player was Anthony
Stewart. He was my role model growing up
and playing with the Frontenacs was my
ultimate dream.”
Duchesne, whose father Denis was
associated with the Kingston Voyageurs
from the time Chad was very small recalls
being immersed in junior hockey from the
very beginning.
“I grew up around that level of hockey,”
he said. “I was a kid running around
the [Voyageurs] room so I saw how the
players worked and trained. I saw how they
conducted themselves on and off the ice,
how they treated their bodies, even what
they ate.” In addition, Duchesne’s family
billeted former Frontenac Mike Farrell.
“Obviously as a young hockey player, I
looked up to Mike,” said Duchesne. “It was
pretty cool hanging with one the Frontenacs
every day.”
These early experiences played a key role
in the desire of both players to contribute
and compete as members of the Frontenacs
but their experiences varied dramatically as
they reached the age where the often elusive
OHL dream skated closer to reality.
Duchesne was drafted in the 13th round
in 2011 by the Mississauga Steelheads and
admits even he wasn’t sure about playing in
the “O”. “I was never really expected to play
in the OHL,” he said. “So I started out with
the Voyageurs but I never doubted myself.”
That confidence in his own ability would
serve him well as he worked to get noticed
and kept himself ready for the opportunity
to jump up to the next level if needed.
8 KINGSTON FRONTENACS GAMEDAY MAGAZINE