The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) hosted its annual general meeting on Thursday night and several motions were passed.
Among the motions passed included allowing each team to have a maximum of eight 20-year-old players. This will increase from the six maximum last season while the previous season each team was able to have a maximum of seven.
The MJHL has yet to complete either of the past two seasons. Two years ago, the season was cancelled in the playoffs while no team played more than 10 games this past season. Doug Hedley says the change is a positive one.
"This is great news for our league, it was a 10 to 2 vote at the meeting," said Hedley. "With what some 18-year-old players have missed out on, this is great news."
The league has also changed the number of games that will be played in the regular season. After a 40 game season was cancelled, the MJHL will move to 54 games next season. Two of these games will be at the league's showcase after it wasn't held last year. The showcase will take place from November 22-24 at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie.
The majority of contests will take place on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The odd weekday game will also be played.
"It's more conducive with developing players to get to the next level," offered Hedley. "You get more time to train during the week and practice time. Off-ice workouts are also consistent, which is a good thing. Playing on the weekends also makes it more of an event for the city."
The MJHL will play the upcoming season with 12 teams after the Winnipeg Freeze was an expansion team last year. In the 2022-23 season, the league will move to 13 teams as a franchise is heading to Niverville.
Two divisions will be used this upcoming season. Dauphin will be joined by Swan Valley, Waywayseecappo, Virden, Neepawa, and OCN. That means that Steinbach will be in a division alongside the Freeze, Blues, Flyers, Portage, and Selkirk.
Hedley remains busy ahead of training camp -- which at this point -- will take place in early September as the league expects to announce a season schedule within the coming weeks.
Dauphin made a splash last season when they committed Keaton Ziprick of Russell, Hayden Lacquette of Dauphin, and Jayden Jubenvill of Gilbert Plains. The team also committed Sean Williams and Brayden Stevenson, two of the team's top young prospects.
In other news relating to the Kings, their Par 3 Extravaganza will be played on August 14 at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club.
