It wasn’t the start the Parkland Rangers were hoping for.

The Rangers opened the 2025-26 Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League season with a 5-3 loss to the visiting Southwest Cougars, Friday in Dauphin.

Southwest opened the scoring, but the Rangers responded with goals from Alex Campbell and Dayson Martin on a power play.

The Cougars responded with two of their own to carry a 3-2 lead into the second period, where they increased the advantage to 5-2.

Jordan Height pulled Parkland to within two late in the second, but that was as close as Parkland would get.

Rangers head coach Rick Freese feels some of the veterans need to lead the way as the rookies learn to adapt to a higher level of hockey.

“But those young kids are working and giving it all they’ve got. It’s early in the season. We’ve just got to make sure we follow the process and make sure that guys are buying into our systems and buying into where we want them, to be out there,” he said.

One thing Freese would like to see from the younger players is a consistent work ethic.

“The biggest thing for us is it’s not a spectator sport and you can’t watch, especially away from the puck. If your feet aren’t moving, you’re probably not where you should be. We’ll get there,” he said.

Every coach, Freese said, wants as short of a learning curve as they can.

“But at the end of the day, you just have to go through things with those guys until they understand what you’re asking for and what you expect. And if it takes a little bit longer, you just continue the same thing until they pick it up and it becomes second nature,” he said.

Freese felt the young players getting their first taste of U18 hockey know how to work hard, singling out Noah Hanneson.

“I thought Hanneson worked real hard. I thought he played a pretty good game for the pace of it and the way it was. I thought he played real well. And we’ve got some other guys that are right up there,” he said.

“So do I think it’s a process. I do and it’s going to take some time.”

The Rangers had chances to score in the third period, but were stymied by Cougars netminder Brady Shields.

Southwest, Freese noted, had two power-play goals and took advantage of some miscommunication by the Rangers.

“They didn’t get anything we didn’t give them and all those things are completely fixable. You just have to be engage and be prepared to play. I think that comes with maturity a little bit, too, as guys get into things,” he said.

The Rangers hosted the Brandon Wheat Kings, Sunday.