• This week's blog was submitted by Doug Zywina of the Dauphin Herald.
Congratulations to the Dauphin Kings players, coaches and training staff for another record-breaking season.
The Kings set a new franchise record on Sunday when they beat the Winnipeg South Blues in a shootout. It was the 43rd win of the season, the most in franchise history and it came with nine games left in the regular season.
The Kings haven't really been challenged this season, at least not in terms of the standings. A scorching hot start enabled them to run away with the Sherwood Division this season, but the team has maintained its focus and every win from now until the end of the season will set the bar higher and higher for future Kings teams to chase.
But, now that the record has been achieved, it is time to start thinking about the playoffs.
While the Kings have been the best team in the league this season, being the best does not guarantee anything, especially when it comes to the playoffs. That is when good teams are able to take their play to the next level, something the Kings will have to do to avoid the embarrassment of an early playoff exit. Whoever they face in the first round will not lie down for the hosts of this year's RBC Cup. Whether it be Portage or Neepawa, the Kings cannot sit back and try to win on talent alone as every game will be a battle.
The rest of the league, with the exception of Wayway and Steinbach, has been fighting for playoff positioning. First place in the Addison Division is up for grabs with three teams fighting for top spot, while in the Sherwood Division, the Swan Valley Stampeders are trying to fend off the challenge of the Portage Terriers, who in turn, are trying to stay ahead of the surging Neepawa Natives. And the OCN Blizzard, while hoping to catch Neepawa for fourth place, have a chance to become just the second team to qualify for the postseason via the crossover, which would have the Blizz ahead of the Winnipeg South Blues in the Addison Division playoffs. For these teams, the playoffs are on now as they battle for either home-ice advantage or just to make it in.
For the Kings, all distractions are behind them - the trade deadline, the all-star game, the club record for wins - so now is the time to join the rest of the league in playing playoff hockey.
• Doug Zywina is a sports reporter with the Dauphin Herald and he will be checking into dauphinkings.com weekly with his thoughts on your Dauphin Kings and the MJHL.
