The Dauphin Kings are the ‘Kings’ of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Playing game seven on Wednesday night in Steinbach, the Kings outlasted the Pistons, 2-1, to claim the title in front of a great crowd at the T.G. Smith Centre.
“This is a special group and has been all season long,” said Doug Hedley after the game. “Everyone bought into what we wanted to do and it’s a special feeling to get the job done here.”
With the Kings up 2-1 late in the third period, Carson Cherepak made an amazing glove save as Travis Hensrud got away on a breakaway but he couldn’t beat the MJHL’s goaltender of the year.
Steinbach did open the scoring in the game as Dawson Milliken found the puck in front of the net and potted it past Cherepak. The Pistons wouldn’t score again; however, as Cherepak was unreal the rest of the way making some huge saves.
Logan Calder made a great play to tie the game for Dauphin. While a man short, he batted down the puck at the left blue line and he beat Will Hambley to knot the game at one goal apiece. Then with just about eight minutes left, Brayden Dube scored his biggest goal as a King as he beat Hambley to give Dauphin a 2-1 lead, a lead they would hold on to.
With the win, the Kings will now play in the Centennial Cup from May 19-29 in Estevan. Their first game is Friday, May 20 against the Ottawa Jr. Senators who are representing the Central Canada Hockey League.