Jamie Valentino was acquired by the Dauphin Kings on December 1 and it did not take him long to score his first as a King.
Just one day after arriving in town, Jamie made his debut as a King on December 3 against the Winkler Flyers and he scored once in the team’s defeat. Since that game, Valentino has remained red-hot with three goals in four games with the team and he has five points.
Including his time in Portage to begin the season, Jamie now has six goals and three assists in 16 games.
“I have to give credit to my linemates, they have made it a lot easier for me,” said Valentino. “Everyone has been extremely welcoming since I joined the team. Hopefully, I can keep producing and we can keep it going.”
(Valentino hammers in a shot against Swan Valley on December 11)
Dauphin is preparing for two more home games before a lengthy Christmas break for the team.
Jamie scored against Swan Valley last Sunday and the team will now look to get one step closer to the Stampeders in the West Division standings. Dauphin trails Swan Valley and OCN by just three points for the top spot.
While Valentino will do whatever it takes for Dauphin to down the Stampeders on Friday, the 20-year-old from Thompson will always have a soft spot when it comes to the team. Following a 45-point campaign with Norman in the 2018-19 season, Jamie began his junior career the following year with the Stampeders and he played 60 games with them before he was traded to Estevan. Jamie’s brothers, Justin and Jordan also played with Swan Valley.
“I have always considered Swan Valley my second home,” said Valentino. “I started going there when I was like 10 or 11 to watch my brothers and I was given a chance to start my junior career there, it was always a special place to be.”
Valentino had mixed feelings when he was dealt to the Estevan Bruins last year. It meant he was leaving Swan Valley, but on the flip side, it meant he was joining at the time, the top team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In the end, it certainly paid off for Jamie as he helped the Bruins lift the Canalta Cup in a thrilling seven-game final against Flin Flon. The team then played host to the Centennial Cup where Jamie played in all four games.
“That was one of the most special moments of my life,” said Valentino. “It was nice to be the only Valentino in our family to win a title since my brothers came up just short.”
The arrival of Jamie also gives Dauphin another look on the power play and despite their struggles overall this season, the Kings have looked solid on the man advantage as of late as they have four goals while a man up over their last two games. He has one power-play goal and one power-play assist so far.
Scoring comes naturally to Jamie, it’s something that he has done his entire life and he also knows how to win a championship, now he’s hoping to pair those two things up in Dauphin as he wraps up his junior career.
“The only thing I want to achieve right now is winning a title with Dauphin, that is what it is all about,” ended Valentino.
Get to know Valentino:
What does your future look like? I definitely want to further my education, one of my brothers wants me to become a gym teacher and the other wants me to become a carpenter, so we will see what happens
Other than winning that title with Estevan, what is your favourite hockey memory? I would say scoring my first MJHL goal with Swan Valley or winning a provincial title in Atom with Ethan Williment
What are some of your hobbies? I’m a big outdoors kind of guy. I like to fish, whether it’s in the winter or summer, I’m a big water sports guy as well and I love golfing
Who are some of the biggest influences in your life? My mom would be the biggest one and my brothers, the three are definitely the biggest influences in my life