There's a buzz in the air.
Months after losing in game seven, 15 players have returned and are ready to go. The Dauphin Kings will open their 2024-25 campaign on Friday night as they play the Virden Oil Capitals inside Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
It's the first of 58 regular-season games for Dauphin, which will host its Assiniboine College home opener on Saturday when the same Oil Capitals come to Credit Union Place.
The team's leading scorer Cayden Glover has returned after posting 48 regular-season points last year in 50 games and six points in seven playoff games. Cole Sheffield, who won 28 regular-season games and was outstanding in round one against the Blizzard, has also returned.
Of the team's returning core, the 14 skaters combined for 264 points last season.
Here is what Dauphin's roster looks like for opening day.
Cole Sheffield - the now 20-year-old from London won 28 games in net for the Kings during the regular season last year. He continually proved why he was one of the top goaltenders in the league. Then in the playoffs, as Dauphin went up against the Blizzard, Sheffield put on a show.
He made 46 saves in game one, 71 in game six, and another 52 in game seven as Dauphin was one win away from advancing to the second round. Sheffield in the preseason this year finished with one shutout, a 0.62 goals-against average and a .976 save percentage.
Victor Larin - from Upton, Quebec, Larin comes to Dauphin after winning five games with Ulysse Prep Varsity last season. While inexperienced at the junior level, Larin was very impressive during the preseason. The 18-year-old had two wins, a .936 save percentage and a 1.65 goals-against average.
It will be Cole's net to run with this year but Larin has proven that he is very capable of stepping up when Sheffield needs a night off.
Aiden Murray - back for his second year as a King, Murray took great strides throughout his first season in Dauphin. He was one of the players that benefited greatly from Dauphin going younger at the trade deadline as the 19-year-old from Decker was inserted into the lineup on a more consistent basis.
When that happened, Murray turned into an excellent junior player and posted 12 regular season points while suiting up in all of Dauphin's seven playoff games, garnering two assists.
Brett Magarrell - Brett played the first 31 games of his junior career with the Portage Terriers before coming to Dauphin. A tireless worker who always pushes himself, Brett is the type of player who will run through a wall for his team.
While Magarrell has yet to be a consistent offensive producer during his junior days, he has great upside on the back end and this could be the year that he adds more offence to his game.
Dylan Miko - he has great size and will be a player who is excellent at getting under the skin of his opponents. Miko, who comes from just down the road in Onanole, played the last five years within the Yellowhead Chiefs program. Last year, he produced 23 points in 44 games while adding up 58 penalty minutes.
Miko is one of those players that already comes in with great strengths and as he adapts to the junior game, there's no limit to how good he could be.
Naaman Hofer - getting the Winnipeg native back is like a dream come true. He was acquired from the Winnipeg Freeze before last season and Hofer made his first season in Dauphin a memorable one.
Finishing third in scoring among defenceman, the crafty skater finished with six goals and 39 assists in the regular season. Hofer has a great knack for his elusiveness and ability to create space for himself and in turn, his teammates that he feeds to puck to. Hofer's first year with Dauphin was a big one and his second is expected to be even bigger.
Justin Mongeon - with a solid defensive group in place, Mongeon will have to earn every second that he gets on the ice. Luckily for him, he's ready for the challenge and has looked impressive throughout the preseason.
He proved last year that he has a nice offensive touch with 25 regular season points and seven in just eight playoff games. Mongeon is a mobile skater and it will be exciting for fans to watch how he blossoms throughout the campaign.
Matthew Haun- Dauphin is still relatively young on the back end. Only Haun and Hofer will start the season as 20-year-olds. Like Mongeon, Haun also enjoyed some nice offensive success last year with 41 points in 43 games, 13 of which were goals.
Haun won't be asked to deliver a ton of offence when he's on the ice but his ability to find the open man and put the puck in the back of the net certainly won't hurt. The 20-year-old from Rochester also stands in at 6'2" and 194 pounds.
Ty Pratte - his transformation is incredible. After joining Dauphin following a trade with Winkler at last year's trade deadline, Pratte left the city following Dauphin's game-seven loss needing to put on some weight and become more physical.
Whatever he did in the off-season, that is exactly what he has done. Pratte has looked fantastic and it is very clear that the soon-to-be 19-year-old put in the work. Pratte comes into the season with something to prove and based on the work he has done over the past few months, he's looking forward to proving it.
Declan Hoad - he comes to the organization fresh off winning a provincial title and being a part of a team that had one of the best seasons in Canadian AAA history. Hoad was a member of the Brandon U18 Wheat Kings as they did not lose a single game in regulation last year in league play with their only loss before the Telus Cup coming in the regionals when they dropped a meaningless game against Thunder Bay.
Drafted in the sixth round by Dauphin in the 2022 draft, Hoad then helped Brandon advance to the national final where they lost to a team from Quebec. It will be interesting to see what Declan does during his rookie season in the City of Sunshine.
Nathan Lenoski - he was just acquired in a trade with Portage earlier this week and Lenoski is already impressing his new coaching staff after reporting to Dauphin. From Winnipeg, the 20-year-old was riddled by the injury bug last year but still managed to post 25 points.
In the prior season with the Winnipeg Freeze, Lenoski had 20 goals and 41 points in 47 games. Dauphin only had to give up future considerations and a player development fee for Lenoski so it is a win-win for the Kings and now it's up to Lenoski to do the rest.
Jackson Hofer - coming to the Kings from Deloraine, Jackson had 21 points with the Southwest U18 Cougars last season. Hofer comes in with solid size and big strides which makes him a potential threat at the junior level.
Gabriel Bugeaud - from Terrebonne, QC, Gabriel came out of the gates firing on all cylinders during his rookie season. In his first 14 games with Dauphin last year, the speedy Bugeaud posted 12 points. While Gabriel couldn't keep up with that torrid pace, he still finished sixth in rookie scoring in the league with 34 points.
He has great speed and a big body, huge things are expected from Gabriel.
Ethan Stewart - just like Hoad, Stewart comes to the Kings fresh off a provincial title. As Brandon steamrolled their way through the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League, Stewart was instrumental in the team's success in posting 64 regular season points and another 12 playoff points.
Dauphin selected Ethan seventh overall in the 2023 draft and he took part in the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings training camp earlier this month. The sky is the limit for the 17-year-old who won't turn 18 until March.
Jack Bechard - he can shoot, he can skate, and he can score. Jack Bechard appears to be the full package and after lighting up Prairie Junior Hockey League with the Regina Capitals last year, Bechard has already made a name for himself throughout camp and preseason.
Jack scored twice and finished with three points in three games in the Blue and White. Last year, Bechard had 63 regular season and 32 playoff points as he proved he was a step ahead of his competition.
Rylan Gage - he won a provincial title with his hometown Hamiota Red Sox senior baseball team this summer and came into camp on a mission. He lost weight and gained more muscle. Gage has made a statement so far over the past three weeks of camp. He has taken over shifts on multiple occasions when he was in the lineup for preseason play and had two points.
Gage, more than anything, wants to be a King. He knows nothing is given and instead, Rylan has worked his tail off and he will be provided with every opportunity to succeed this year and there's no reason he shouldn't. Watch out for Rylan Gage, his transformation is impressive and fans are in for a treat.
Rylan Gibbs - he has yet to be a consistent offensive producer at the junior level but he's hoping his final year as a King will solve that. Heading into this year, Rylan has 14 goals in 104 games as a King.
As captain of the Parkland U18 Rangers in the 2021-22 season, Gibbs scored 21 times so there's no doubt he can score. He has a brilliant shot and will always have the hometown fans cheering him on.
Madden Murray - he's fast and has a great shot. He's also from Dauphin and always has a smile on his face. Madden Murray is a true junior hockey player. He never stops thinking about the game and many times he's the first one at the rink and the last one to leave.
Madden has looked very impressive over the last three weeks and should get plenty of opportunity in the top six to produce this year. Murray is also not afraid of digging deep in the corners for the puck, whatever has to get done to succeed, you can count on the Dauphin star.
Sheldon Shyiak - he will never forget his first goal scored at the Hockey For All Centre last year. Sheldon returns for his second year as a King and after spending the season in and out of the lineup, Shyiak is looking to become a more consistent contributor.
This won't always be by putting up points, Shyiak plays with an edge and is not afraid to lay the body on his opponents.
Ashton Paul - he has one of the best shots you will see. After starting last season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with the Flin Flon Bombers, Paul came over to Dauphin at the deadline and put up 32 points in 25 games.
He's only two years removed from scoring 26 goals with his hometown Blizzard during the 2022-23 season. He had every opportunity to succeed that year and that will once again be the case this year. If you're the one scoring them, goals are loved and Paul is hoping to add many of them this year. He scored seven with Dauphin last year across 32 games.
Joshua Schmidt - his biggest goal as a King was scored in overtime of game two against the Blizzard last year. Josh is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, there's no doubt about that. He's also very passionate about representing the Kings' crest.
It's also evident that Josh put in a lot of work on himself in the off-season as he looks a step quicker and with a smile on his face, he will say a big season is ahead. Schmidt finished with two playoff goals last year after posting nine points across 38 regular season games.
Gavin Nemis - the 18-year-old is another player who put in a lot of work over the summer months. He has come into camp bigger, stronger, and faster. Gavin showed signs of brilliance last year with 14 points across 37 games and also faced some growing pains adapting to the junior game.
He will get an extended opportunity to showcase his skills this year and fans should look forward to watching the Winnipeg forward.
Devun Olfert - he is likely ecstatic to be on a team that will contend this year. Devun played for the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) last year and they won just 10 regular season games before losing in the play-in series.
Olfert comes to Dauphin with some good size standing at 6'2" and has already shown that he is ready for the MJHL challenge after scoring a hat-trick against Swan Valley in the preseason. You can tell that Devun plays with intensity and he should fit in very well with the Kings.
Lucas Durham - Kings fans will have to wait a little longer to see Lucas make his regular season debut as he's out for a few more weeks with an upper-body injury sustained in a preseason game against Swan Valley.
When he eventually hits the ice, it will be very easy to notice the 18-year-old from Oshawa. At 6'4", Durham provides a towering presence and he showed in the preseason that he has an offensive touch with two points in as many games and several other chances. Another great addition to the team.
Joey Kubas - From Bloomington, MN, Joey comes in with something to prove. Some American skaters have struggled in years past to adapt to the Canadian game and how physical the MJHL is. If you ask Joey; however, he isn't worried about that.
While Joey isn't a towering force, he has no problem going into a scrum and battling for a puck which is something that he will have to continue doing if he hopes to enjoy success. You know you will get 100 percent commitment and he will never take a shift off. In his final year of high school last year, Kubas had nine goals and 12 assists. Fun fact, Joey's dad, Andy is the team's assistant general manager and director of USA scouting.
Cayden Glover - a special player with a rocket of a shot. Last year's leading scorer is back as Cayden Glover returned to the City of Sunshine for his 20-year-old season. Cayden led the team last year with 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points in 50 games. He then put forth six playoff points in seven games.
Cayden has no trouble sticking with the biggest players in the league and will never shy away from some rough stuff. If he has the puck in the slot with some open space, good luck to other goalies. Glover is ready to get his season going on Friday just down the road from his hometown in Virden.
"This year is going to be very exciting, we have a great group of guys and we're ready to go on a run," said Glover. "When it came down to it, it was an easy decision to return. From Haley as our trainer to the coaching staff to our amazing fans, Dauphin is an incredible place to be. I'm happy to be a King for another season."
Ethan Williment - he is the lone member of Dauphin's championship team in 2022 that is still here. He loves being a King and would do anything for this organization. Ethan hopes to have his biggest year yet as the team's season opens on Friday.
Williment was well on his way to posting a career-high in points last year but the injury bug hit him as he finished with 18 points, four shy of the previous year when he had 22 points. If the Winnipeg native can stay healthy this year, an exciting season should be on the way for the 20-year-old who began his junior career in Dauphin and will end it here.
Luke Myhre - the 17-year-old just joined the team earlier this week after returning from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his lone year of AAA hockey in Manitoba with the U18 Rangers, Myhre had 32 points, 16 of which were goals. He then made his way to Prairie Hockey Academy last year where he scored 12 times in 29 games and had 10 assists. That was followed up by a four-point performance across three playoff games.
Standing at 6'2", Myhre brings great size back to his hometown junior team and moves very well. It will be interesting to see what Myhre can do in his first year as a junior.
There is a ton of excitement heading into the new season. Expectations are high for the Kings and with the group that Doug Hedley has assembled, they should be. Nothing will be handed to this team, they will have to earn everything and their first chance to earn two points will be on Friday when they play the Oil Capitals.
Darnell Duff will have the broadcast of that game beginning with the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show at 7:20. Dauphin then hosts the Oil Capitals on Saturday for their Assiniboine College home opener.