Following an eight-point season with the Yorkton U18 AAA Maulers in the 2019-20 season, Jayden Harris made the move to Dauphin as he joined the Kings. But his first season as a junior hockey player was very short-lived as the campaign was cancelled after just six games because of the pandemic.
So Jayden went back to Regina and hit the gym with the hope of returning to Dauphin and now, Harris is back in town. The 19-year-old has played all but one of the team’s regular-season games this year and he’s happy to be back in town.
“It feels great to be back here with the guys,” said Harris. “With last year being short, it means that much more to be back now.”
As the team is 14-4 entering another weekend home-and-home with the Swan Valley Stampeders, Harris is coming off his best offensive weekend during his time with the team. On Friday in a 5-0 win, Harris walked off the wall and fired home a beautiful shot past Kobe Grant for his first goal of the season.
The goal was also Jayden’s first-ever junior hockey goal. Then one night later, Harris set up Parker Fofonoff with Dauphin down 1-0. In the end, the Kings earned a 2-1 shootout victory as they swept the weekend series.
One goal and one assist last weekend now has Harris sitting with one goal and three assists after 17 games.
“It was a big weight off my shoulders to get that first goal, I think it was a bit overdue,” said Harris. “And on that pass to Foff, I’m just happy that I was able to get into my groove a little bit more here.”
The team is back in preparation mode. Starting Friday, the club will play four times in six days. Following their two-game set against the Stampeders, Dauphin is in Portage for the MJHL Showcase on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Since Harris first arrived in Dauphin, he was welcomed with open arms. The Carnegie family has welcomed Harris into their home and there is always lots of hockey talk while at home. Wes Carnegie is the Operations Manager for Dauphin Rec and his son plays with the Parkland U15 Rangers.
“I’ve loved every second living with the family, they opened their house to me and have been great,” said Harris. “They’re such a great family and I’m extremely lucky to be living with them while I’m here in Dauphin.”
Get to know Harris:
Favourite NHL team? The Toronto Maple Leafs. It was unfortunate when Zach Hyman left the team, I try and craft my game around him
Do you want to travel? Yeah, absolutely. I would love to see the rest of Canada like Toronto and just go anywhere
What are some of your hobbies? I love golfing in the summer and wake boarding is a big thing for me
What’s your favourite hockey memory? My first year playing U18 hockey we won the championship, I’ll never forget that. I had a bunch of buddies on the team that I grew up with