The Dauphin Kings are one point away from clinching the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s MGEU West Division title entering the final week of the regular season.
After dropping a 1-0 decision to the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, last Tuesday, the Kings won both games over the weekend, beating the Portage Terriers, 2-1, Friday in Dauphin, before handing the Swan Valley Stampeders a 3-1 loss in Swan River.
Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley is pleased with the team’s defensive play of late, noting that is to be expected come playoff time.
“We’re trying to be consistent. We talk about the process, not really the result. We want to get those consistent habits going into the last part of the regular season and into the playoff stretch,” he said.
“So it’s good to see. The D side of the puck battles in the low D zone are getting good. Guys are coming back hard. Guys are working hard. Stick battles, 50-50 stick battles, we’re winning. Faceoffs are getting better. So it’s definitely a process going in the right direction.”
The Kings have three games remaining and all three are meaningful games as two are with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, who are trying to lock down the final playoff spot in the West Division, sitting three points ahead of the Virden Oil Capitals.
Dauphin is in Waywayseecappo tonight at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Kings make their final trip to Neepawa to face the Titans at 7:30 p.m. And on Saturday, the Kings host the Wolverines, also at 7:30 p.m.
Those meaningful games will benefit the Kings as they prepare for playoffs.
“Playing teams that are in the same position as we are and getting ready for playoffs is a good thing,” Hedley said.
“Sheff (goalie Cole Sheffield) is locked in right now. It’s his 20th year, obviously, and he wants to play at the next level. Everybody we’re playing now is a good thing to get pushed, so we can push back and just find out what we’re about. The only way to get experience like this is through games and our young guys are getting some good experience right now.”
Hedley noted Ethan Stewart and Declan Hoad have their own playoff experience they can lean on, having won a championship with the U18 Brandon Wheat Kings, last season.
“They’ve been in games like that. They can rely on their experience on what it takes to get the job done. And with the vets, Gloves, (Cayden Glover), Willi (Ethan Williment), Hofe (Naaman Hofer), Sheff, and then you put Hauner (Matthew Haun) in there that is playing well, the 20 year olds lead and the rest of the guys follow,” he said.
Kings court: Defenceman Naaman Hofer was named the winner of the Brian Kozak Memorial Award as Top Defenceman. Connor Paranuzzi of the Steinbach Pistons won the Steve “Boomer” Hawrysh Award as MVP, while Winkler’s Liam Ernst won the Ed Belfour Award as Top Goaltender. Portage netminder Mitchell Kathler won the Kim Davis Award as Top Rookie. Brody Beauchemin of Winkler won the Frank McKinnon Memorial Award for Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship and Matt Melo of Winkler was named the winner of the Muzz McPherson Memorial Award as Coach of the Year. Hofer and teammate Cayden Glover were selected to the first all-star team along with Northern Manitoba’s Miguel Bouvier and Paranuzzi, Winkler defenceman Isaiah Peters and Ernst. Cole Sheffield was selected to the second all-star team along with Grandview’s Jayce Legaarden of Winkler, Cam Bullinger of Portage, Adam Vigfusson of the Niverville Nighthawks and defencemen Noah Szabo of Steinbach and Parker Scherr of Portage. The rookie all-star team consists of Kathler, defencemen Maxime Lavoie of Winkler and Reece Gault of Steinbach and forwards Koy Funk of Portage, Rohan Guevarra of the Selkirk Steelers and Kam Thomas of Winkler.
