DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings and Virden Oil Capitals meet for the first time since late November when they square off tonight at Credit Union Place for Ukrainian Night.
The game has a different meaning for both hockey clubs. For the Kings they continue to look for separation when it comes to top spot in the West Division. For the Oil Capitals they are in a battle for their playoff lives, looking to stay in the mix for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.
Tonight's Game Sponsor is Canada's National Ukrainian Festival.
Of course with Ukrainian Night there is loads going on at the arena. Doors open at 6:00pm with dancing, vendors and music playing both in and around the arena. Don't forget about the food at Temptations Concession and the Cossack Camp on the concourse as well! In the first intermission it's the M&M Food Market Express Puck Toss with a pot over $700.00! Then in the second intermission it's the world famous Kubassa Toss.
Pre Game Ceremonies will begin just before 7:30pm so be in your seats by 7:15pm!
Be sure to follow the Kings on social media throughout tonight's tilt for updates!
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Come back after the game for the Dusty's Butcher Shop Post Game Report!
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TONIGHT'S MATCH UP
KINGS (26-9-1-0) - 1st in West
It's another game in hand opportunity for the Dauphin Kings as the club looks to put separation between themselves and the Northern Manitoba Blizzard for top spot in the West Division. The Kings are also going for a fifth straight win after that 4-1 victory in Swan River on Tuesday.
After tonight's game the Kings will get almost a week off before they see game action again in Virden on January 31st. Five players for the Kings (Nemis, Glover, Hofer, Thomas & Sheffield), however, will head south to Winnipeg to take part in the MJHL / SJHL Showcase. After January the schedule gets very intense for Dauphin with 13 games in 28 days.
Special Teams for the Kings enter tonight 2nd in the MJHL on the Power Play at 26.5% while their Penalty Kill comes in 6th at 81.8%.
Cayden Glover (31G, 19A) remains atop the Kings in scoring, on Tuesday in Swan River his three points got him to the 50 point mark.
OIL CAPITALS (15-24-0-0) - 5th in West
The Virden Oil Capitals will look to bounce back tonight when they visit the Kings. Virden is coming off a disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Freeze. It was a mixed bag of a game for the Oil Capitals. The first half saw them fall behind 4-0 but bounce back to send the game to overtime.
Scheduling is not in favour of the Oil Capitals when it comes to games at home and on the road the rest of the way. Virden was fortunate at the start of the season to have a lot of games on home ice which means the back half of their schedule is road heavy. Between now and the end of the campaign the Oil Capitals play just six games at home with the other 12 coming away from Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
Special Teams for the Oil Capitals have them at 18.2% on the Power Play and 72.2% on the Penalty Kill. Both those numbers are near the bottom of the MJHL.
Noel Englot leads Virden in scoring coming into this evening's affair. He has 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points.