Kingston Frontenacs GameDay January 22, 2016

General Manager Doug Gilmour snapped
up Verbeek and he was shipped home
to Kingston. The speedy left winger made
his Rogers K-Rock Centre debut on
December 6th, 2013. “It was definitely
nerve wracking when I stepped on the
ice against Barrie,” said Verbeek. “My
first shift I was going like a bat out of hell–
running all over the place. Obviously I had
a lot of friends and family in the crowd so
I was trying to give it my best. After that
first shift I shook off the nerves.”
Duchesne echoes his teammate’s
experience under the lights of his
hometown rink during his inaugural
game. “Oh yeah, I was shaking out there,”
he said. “I remember Paul [coach Paul
McFarland] laughing about it because I
ended up playing a ton - the most I think
I’ve ever played. I was gassed at the end
of the game and I remember the coach
telling me that he was glad I had settled
down after that first shift or I never would
have lasted the whole game.”
In addition to playing in their hometown
for the only major sports franchise in the
city, in front of friends, family, classmates
and acquaintances, these two boys also
have to deal with a very unique situation.
Night after night, they’re playing for one of
Kingston’s most celebrated native sons–
Hockey Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour. “It’s
kinda different to have Doug Gilmour
in management because you obviously
have lots of friends and family asking you
about him,” said Duchesne. “To us–he’s
our GM first and we have to perform for
him. So we look at him like our boss but
every once in a while you can’t help but
be a little star struck because you can be
having a conversation with him and then
KINGSTON FRONTENACS GAMEDAY MAGAZINE