While Doug Hedley has a good idea of what he has to work with for the coming Manitoba Junior Hockey League season, the Dauphin Kings head coach and general manager will get his first look at all of his options in one place when the club hosts its fall training camp, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.

And while all aspects of the game will under scrutiny, Hedley will focussing on finding some offense. With players such as Aiden Murray, Brett Magarrell, Ty Pratte, Sam Swanton and Naaman Hofer set to return, defence is not Hedley’s firsat concern.

“The back end is probably one of our strengths. We have four or five solid returning kids, so we’re looking at being real strong on the back end, mobile and physical and heavy,” Hedley said.

“Then we throw in some guys that we had at prospect camps. We had some real good kids.”

It has been an up and down summer for Hedley. On one hand he has been able to add some quality prospects to the roster. On the other, he has had to deal with the departure of Trey Gnetz and Charlie Sandven who have joined teams in the North American Hockey League.

“There’s so many options for players now and all players have advisors,” Hedley said, adding the problem has been compounded with the British Columbia Hockey League and five Alberta Junior Hockey League teams recently choosing to operate outside of Hockey Canada’s system. 

“They just come in and talk to your best players because they can.”

At one point this summer, Hedley was dealing with the idea of losing goaltender Cole Sheffield - arguably the top netminder in the league last season - to a BCHL club. However, he has since learned Sheffield will return to play for the Kings this season.

Read the full story in this week’s Dauphin Herald.