The Dauphin Kings were one goal away from a Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) title and a berth to the Centennial Cup, which opens later this week in Calgary.
Last Thursday's heartbreaking triple-overtime loss was the end of the line for five team members: Cole Sheffield, Ethan Williment, Cayden Glover, Naaman Hofer, and Matthew Haun. On the bench, meanwhile, it was Rick Freese's last game with the organization.
Rick has been an assistant coach with the team for the past two years. If you know Rick, you know his passion for the Kings over the past two years.
"It has been two phenomenal years. I have learned so much from Doug Hedley over the past two years," said Freese. "Drawing on his experience. It's been quite a ride. At the end of the day, I really appreciate the opportunity."
Freese is not only an accomplished coach but also an accomplished player. Leaving home at a young age to play AAA hockey with the Norman Northstars, Freese began his junior career with the Flin Flon Bombers in the 2001-02 season, playing 41 regular-season games. He played 58 games the following season with Flin Flon before joining the Humboldt Broncos for the 2002-03 season. It was one to remember.
As the Broncos finished with 39 wins and a first-place regular-season finish, Rick finished with 10 points and 62 penalty minutes. He then helped the Broncos win the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The team advanced to the Royal Bank Cup, where they went 2-2 in the round-robin, which was good enough for the playoffs.
They downed the Wellington Dukes, 3-2, in the semifinals and upset the top-ranked Camrose Kodiaks, 3-1, in the national final. It was Humboldt's first national title, and Rick played an integral part in it.
Over the past two decades, Rick played with the Grandview Comets in the 2010-11 season before putting on his coaching hat. He was a co-coach during the 2020-21 season with the Parkland U18 Rangers. The Rangers were on fire that season, winning six of their first seven games, and had high expectations.
Unfortunately, the season was cancelled after seven games due to the coronavirus pandemic. He led the U15 Rangers to a 12-win season during the 2022-23 campaign and has since spent the past two years with the Kings.
Working full time with Manitoba Hydro, Rick is preparing for his next adventure. Last week, he was named the new head coach for the U18 Rangers. Based out of Credit Union Place, Freese will work to assemble the remainder of his coaching staff in the coming months.
"It's bittersweet leaving the Kings. With that said, it's a new chapter, and I'm excited about the new opportunity," continued Freese. "I'm excited to get going with the new organization and make a difference there. I'll draw on my experience as a junior player and assistant coach to make sure we're doing the best job we can."
Highly respected by his peers, Freese understands there may be some challenges, but he is ready to seize the moment and lead the Rangers back to the playoffs. The team came up just short this year. The Rangers have missed the playoffs three straight years, since making history in 2022, when they advanced to the second round for the first time in more than two decades.
"Experience is a great feature. Still hurting from the Kings' playoff run, it didn't go how we had planned out with that triple overtime loss in game seven," continued Freese. "Definitely going to be drawing from that experience and the experiences over the past couple of years, and when I played.
Training camp for the 2025-26 season will open in early September, and 16 players from last year's team are eligible to return. While it's nearly impossible to forecast what next year's roster could look like, Freese is optimistic.
"The bottom line is we're going to be in touch with those veteran players," ended Freese. "The talent pool is good. These guys have to make sure they have good summers and put in the effort, nothing is ever guaranteed."
As one chapter ends, Freese turns the page with purpose, ready to inspire the next generation and lead the Rangers with the same passion, resilience, and commitment that have defined his journey every step of the way.
