The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is making a change beginning in June. After 18 years, Kim Davis will be stepping down as Commissioner of the league.
Kim was named the Commissioner in June of 2002 and with that, he became the first full-time commissioner of the league.
Since his appointment, there have been over 6,000 MJHL regular-season games played along with over 700 playoff games and more than 200 regional or national championship games.
Over the next two months, the MJHL will also be adding two new staff members.
"It's kind of parted me because I've been doing it so long," said Kim Davis. "I've just had enough of this type of work and that's not a negative, I just don't want to do it anymore."
The search for a new Commissioner has also come to a close. Kevin Saurette will take over for Kim at the end of June 2020. Currently, Kevin is the Director of Operations and he's been so for the past four seasons.
Prior to joining the MJHL, Saurette played nine-years in the ECHL, AHL, as well as overseas and in the United Kingdom. Saurette is originally from Brandon, Manitoba.
One of the positions the league will be looking to fill is Kevin's and that search has now begun. With Kevin taking over, Kim knows the league is in good hands.
"Yeah, it really is. He's a great character and he has a great personality," said Davis. "This is a very demanding job, there is a ton of conflict between coaches and the league office. It takes a special character to do this job successfully and Saurette is that."
"He works really well with people so he already has the respect of coaches," continued Davis. "I think he's going to do a great job with the league."
Davis' final big event as a Commissioner of the MJHL comes on the national stage. The Portage Terriers will host the Centennial Cup from May 9-17 at Stride Place.
You can hear Darnell Duff's full chat with Kim Davis during the Dauphin Kings game tonight during the second intermission.
