{"slides_column":"2","slides_scroll":"1","dots":"false","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplay_interval":"5000","loop":"true","rtl":"false","speed":"2000","center_mode":"false"}

Story Time With Darnell: First Half

They had 30 shots in the final 40 minutes of their final game before the Christmas break.

Many of those shots were great chances; it just happened that the Dauphin Kings ran into a hot goaltender as they fell 3-1 in their final game of 2024.

Matthew Thomas scored his ninth goal of the season in the defeat.

“I was very happy with the way our guys pushed back, if you take away about six minutes of that game, we were the better team,” said Doug Hedley, the team’s head coach and general manager. “I thought we generated many chances and played with speed; it was a good road game. You have to give credit to their goalie who played very well.”

Despite the loss, it was a fantastic first half of the season for Dauphin. The Kings beat the Blizzard twice in the final three weeks of 2024 and at the very least, will enter the break in a tie for first place in the MGEU West Division. The Blizzard could sweep Neepawa this weekend and tie Dauphin with 43 points, however, the Kings will enter 2025 in the driver’s seat with five games in hand on the Blizzard.

From October 20 to November 2, the Kings won five straight and went 14-4-1 in their final 19 games of 2024.

“Anytime you win 20 or more games before the break, you know you’re having a good season,” said Hedley. “It’s a good chance for the guys to get away from the game, a mental break and enjoy this time. I believe we have a special group here that can make things happen. We have a group that can play with anyone in the league."

Dauphin returns to game action on Saturday, January 4 when the Winnipeg Blues come to town.  They then welcome the Northern Manitoba Blizzard to town on January 5.

By The Numbers:

Goaltending:

Cole Sheffield

18-7-1 / .920 save percentage / 2.45 goals-against average / 2 shutouts
Cole Sheffield continues to be one of the top goalies in the league. After a sensational first-round performance against the Blizzard last year, the 20-year-old continues to give Dauphin a chance to win every night.

While he has struggled at times this year, his great play has far outweighed any struggles. He won five of his last seven starts and seven of eight between October 13 and November 2.

No goalie has played more than Cole this year and in fact, it’s not even close. His 1520 minutes played are 204 more than Jase Wareham who has played the second-most.

“With Cole, you’re in every game and with him, you have a chance to win a championship and that’s why we’re here,” said Hedley. “You look no further than last year in the playoffs and what he has done this year. Cole is a special goalie and we have full trust in him.”

Bryson Yaschyshyn

3-0 / .885 save percentage / 2.55 goals-against average

Since being acquired from Winkler, Bryson has become one of the most likeable players in the dressing room and it appears that fans love him as well.

Bryson had a tough game against Waywayseecappo on December 10 when he gave up four goals in 16 shots. In his previous two games with Dauphin, Yaschyshyn was brilliant as he turned away 40 of the 43 shots he faced.

Playing as a back-up to one of the finest goalies around, Bryson will continue to improve and the future looks bright for the former member of the Pembina Valley Hawks.

“We didn’t get a large sample size of him but we love his work ethic and compete,” continued Hedley. “We’re looking to get him some real good starts here in the second half to get that consistency and give Cole a little bit of a rest down the stretch.”

Defence:

Naaman Hofer – four goals, 32 assists
Matthew Thomas – nine goals, 13 assists
Ty Pratte – one goal, 15 assists
Matthew Haun – one goal, 11 assists
Aiden Murray – one goal, six assists
Daniel Helary – three goals, three assists
Brett Magarrell – three assists
Dylan Miko – 14 games played

Dauphin ranks third in the league with 77 goals against. Only Winkler (55) and Steinbach (61) have allowed fewer. The Kings possess skill, great size and they’re deep on the back end.

The team will also welcome back Aiden Murray to the lineup in the New Year. He’s been out with an upper-body injury for a good portion of the season. Murray’s last game was a one-assist performance on November 10.

“Getting Aiden back early in 2025 is almost like making a trade at the deadline,” said Hedley. “We have been good without him. With that said, he’s a guy who gives us more ability and is great at moving pucks up the ice. He provides us with that much more depth.”

Hedley also commented on the team’s ability to play in a multitude of ways.

“With Miko and Helary on the back end with their size and strength, we can play any game that the opposition wants to in any size arena,” commented Hedley.

Forwards:

Cayden Glover – 23 goals, 14 assists (his 23 goals are the most in the league, three more than Miguel Bouvier)
Gavin Nemis – seven goals, 18 assists
Rylan Gage – nine goals, eight assists
Madden Murray - (from Dauphin) nine goals, six assists
Gabriel Bugeaud - seven goals, eight assists
Ethan Stewart – three goals, 11 assists
Ethan Williment – nine goals, one assist
Josh Schmidt – four goals, six assists
Havyril Simchuk – 4 goals, five assists
Declan Hoad – five goals, two assists
Joey Kubas – two goals, three assists
Rylan Ringor – one goal, two assists
Sheldon Shyiak – one goal, two assists
Luke Myhre – 10 games played

With their 113 goals, Dauphin has scored the fourth-most in the league heading into 2025. Only Selkirk (116), Winkler (120), and Steinbach (136) have scored more.

When it comes to West Division opponents, Dauphin has 12 more than the Blizzard and Titans.

The Kings scored four goals or more 16 times this season and scored 30 in their final seven contests.

“Gavin Nemis is a guy that we’re relying on. He had some outstanding opportunities in the first half, if he capitalized on half of those, he would be right near Glover,” said Glover. “I believe Bugeaud is going to have an outstanding second half. Getting him back in the New Year will be a big boost for our club.”

Just a few weeks away from the trade deadline, Hedley said the perfect world would see the team add a top-six forward.

“If we could add a top three or top-six forward, that’s certainly something we are looking to achieve,” said Hedley.

As noted above, the Kings return to the friendly confines of Credit Union Place on January 4 and 5. Including a postponed game that will need to be rescheduled on home ice against Swan Valley, Dauphin will play 14 games on home ice in the second half including the team’s season finale on March 15 when Waywayseecappo is in town.

In closing, Hedley is very thankful for Dauphin’s incredible fans.

“The support in town is fantastic. Fans come to the rink wanting to watch a team that works hard and leaves everything on the ice and I believe that’s what our team is about,” offered Hedley. “Our identity is hard work, being an entertaining team and I think fans appreciate that.”

“I want to give a big shoutout to all of our fans, Merry Christmas, safe travels and enjoy the holidays,” he ended.

From 730CKDM’s Voice of the Dauphin Kings Darnell Duff and everyone at the Dauphin Kings Junior A Hockey Club, Merry Christmas and we will see you at the rink on January 4.