Kingston Frontenacs GameDay December 3, 2017

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by Doug Graham, Kingston Whig-Standard [Originally published Tuesday, November 28, 2017]
November has been quite the month for Kingston
Frontenacs sophomore forward Nathan Dunkley.
Slowed down in October by a five-game suspension
handed to him by the Ontario Hockey League, the
17-year-old Campbellford native is now playing the
type of hockey that first drew Kingston’s attention in
his 2016 draft year, when the Frontenacs selected
him with their first pick.
“I am just trying to play the right way: stick to the
basics and worry about my own end first and let the
offence handle itself,” Dunkley, who has amassed
17 points in 11 games for the month, said.
Dunkley has only failed to pick up a point in one
game in November. He now has eight goals and 24
points in his 20 games played.
The suspension he took on Oct. 6, when he
directed some not-so-wise words toward the Flint
Firebirds players bench, came after he had opened
the season at a point-per-game production.
Obviously the suspension was his own doing and
Dunkley, who is in his National Hockey League
draft year, has come to grips with it.
“I own my suspension. I’ve put it behind me and
moved forward,” Dunkley said. “It was tough trying
to come back, but I think I’ve found my stride.”
It is no coincidence that Dunkley’s play took off
recently when head coach Jay Varady shuffled
lines, putting Dunkley at centre between Jason
Robertson and Linus Nyman.
“They are two great players [who] have great vision.
It makes my job so much easier,” Dunkley said.
Varady borrowed a phrase from Columbus Blue
Jackets head coach John Tortorella, who said that
he sometimes puts guys together for no real reason
and they turn out good together.
“These guys [Dunkley, Robertson and Nyman] got
together and they started to produce. As a group,
our team started to have a little success and you
just stay with that,” Varady said.
“I think Nathan’s biggest strength is his tenacity.
When he is playing his best, you see him winning
battles in the corner, going to the rough areas to
score [using] the middle drive to get to the right
spot.”
Dunkley is also earning some power-play time on
a main unit that uses his full line along with Tyler
14 KINGSTON FRONTENACS GAMEDAY MAGAZINE