Garrett Hrechka is back doing what he loves with the team he always grew up wanting to play with. The 19-year-old from Dauphin is back with the Kings as the team prepares for a weekend home-and-home with the OCN Blizzard.
The former all-star with the Parkland Rangers program has played in three games this season as the team is off to a 4-2 start which has them tied atop the West Division. Hrechka says being back on the ice is an incredible feeling, especially with it being with the team he grew up watching.
“It feels so great,” said Hrechka. “To be back on the ice with this great group of guys and coaching staff, I couldn’t ask for more.”
After losing a nearly full season of eligibility, Hrechka used that as motivation during the pause knowing that hockey would eventually return and thankfully, it has with the MJHL season entering week four of regular-season action.
As the season continues to move ahead, Hrechka is happy that he’s on this year’s team but he knows that he has a lot more to give if he wants to be an everyday player and one that contributes regularly.
“There’s always room for improvement, I need to do more as a 19-year-old,” said Hrechka. “I just need to keep getting better, that’s my message to myself.”
After splitting their first two games of the season with Neepawa, Dauphin was back on home ice at Credit Union Place on September 24 as they opened another home-and-home with the Titans. From start to finish, Dauphin outplayed the Titans as they held a 4-2 lead with less than 10 minutes left when Dauphin’s fourth line showed off some flash.
Slade Stanick picked up a puck, skated over the blue line and outlasted the Titan defender, slid it to Hrechka and Garrett went to the backhand to tuck it past Emerick Demers as the Dauphinite recorded his first-ever MJHL regular-season goal with his hometown team.
Hrechka said it was nice to get the monkey off his back.
“It was mostly all Slade, he gave me a gift,” said Hrechka. “I’m going to have to get him a Christmas present for that. It was a beautiful pass, all I had to do was finish. It gives me a lot of confidence moving forward knowing I can find the back of the net.”
Off the ice, Hrechka is staying busy taking a couple of university classes in computer science and is also working at North of 51 Designs.
Get to know Hrechka:
Q: Is there something you always eat on game day? Right now, I’ve been eating a meat-lovers skillet in the morning with Mozza sticks.
Q: Who are your favourite professional sports teams? Cleveland Browns and Boston Bruins
Q: What’s your favourite thing about living in Dauphin? Hunting and ice fishing in the area
Q: What’s your favourite movie? Parasite or the dirt
Q: What’s your favourite childhood memory? Going to Quebec with the French program in elementary school
You can hear Garrett’s entire interview with Darnell Duff during the Kings Power Play Show which goes after 4:00 p.m. NewsNow on Friday afternoon. Then at 7:30, Dauphin plays OCN at Credit Union Place to begin their weekend.