The Dauphin Kings will have a new face behind the bench next season after mutually parting ways with Doug Hedley.

Kings interim president Bryan Romanow said the board decided it was time for a change.

“And we basically mutually agreed to separate,” he said.

The Kings are now taking applications for the positions of head coach and general manager, with a May 3 deadline.

Romanow said junior hockey has become more focused on developing players.

“Which Doug is really good at. So we’re going to probably continue with that. And winning isn’t bad, either,” he said, adding experience would be an asset.

“But we’re open to whatever comes our way. We’ll go through an exhausting application process and find the best candidate we can for the organization,” Romanow said.

With the Manitoba Junior Hockey League annual general meeting scheduled for late May or early June, the Kings hope to have someone in place before then.

“We’d like to wish Doug all the success in future endeavours and he did a great job with the Dauphin Kings,” Romanow said.

For Hedley, he made it clear before the playoffs started he would like to return.

“It was one of those things that it’s just going to work better for both. We’ve parted ways and have agreed to move on,” he said.

Hedley leaves the team as the franchise leader in games coached (770), wins (461) and losses (259), as well as 33 overtime losses and 17 shootout losses.

He also guided the Kings to a Turnbull Cup championships in 2022, his first and only title in his junior career.

For the full story, read this week's edition of the Dauphin Herald.