DAUPHIN, MB - The Dauphin Kings played an excellent 40 minutes but couldn't finish things off in the final 20 in a 6-3 loss to the Neepawa Natives Friday night at Credit Union Place. 

In front of a strong crowd the Kings built up a 3-1 lead, but saw it fall in the late stages of the third period. 

In the opening frame the Kings got the scoring going when Bradyn Smelski scored his first MJHL goal in front of his home town crowd. The Kings would take that lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes.

The second period saw Dauphin build up their lead to 2-0 when Dustin Mozdzen scored his first goal as a Kings since being acquired by the club at the trade deadline. Neepawa would cut the lead in half before Jaymes Knee responded with his ninth of the campaign. The Natives would get a goal late to make it a 3-2 contest heading into the third. 

The final frame had the Natives scoring four unanswered (two empty netters) to take the game 6-3.

Dauphin's first two periods were very good, but once again one of the youngest Junior A hockey clubs in Canada couldn't hold onto a lead in the third period. The loss slips their record to 10-32-2 on the season. 

The Kings' man advantage went 0 for 4 while Neepawa was 1 for 3. Dauphin out shot the Natives 46-44 on Friday, Brennan Kitchen suffered the loss between the pipes for the Kings.

Now Dauphin gets a few days off before their next action which comes on Tuesday when they visit the OCN Blizzard. After that it's an affair in Wayway next Friday before the team returns to Credit Union Place for Ukrainian Night on Saturday. All game times next week are 7:30pm!

#LongLiveTheKings

  Dustin Mozdzen - 1 Goal

Bradyn Smelski - 1 Goal

 Jaymes Knee - 1 Goal