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The Dauphin Kings will look to win their third straight game tonight.

They welcome Waywayseecappo to town as the teams meet for the second time in as many days. 

Last night, the Kings erased a two goal deficit to beat the Wolverines. 

Dauphin (8-5) is now in a tie for second in the league, and can jump into a tie for first tonight with two points. 

Tonight’s game will be the first of many home games for Dauphin in the next little while. 

Dauphin will play four of their next five games at Credit Union Place leading into next month. 

Photo Credit - Dauphin Kings.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 20, 2018 - 11:04 am

It was a penalty fest, a battle, and a great hockey game and it ended up perfectly for the Dauphin Kings. 

They beat the Waywayseecappo Wolverines tonight, 3-2.

It was the Wolverines that jumped out to a 2-0 lead just over nine minutes into the game. 

Avery Smith scored a clutch goal with just 43 seconds left in the first to cut the deficit in half after 20.

In the second, penalties took over the scoresheet but no goals were scored as both teams did a good job on the penalty kill. 

Enter the Dauphin Kings. Bryon Fobair tied the game up for Dauphin just over four minutes into the third. 

After that, Dauphin spent nearly six straight minutes in the penalty box midway through the frame. But, the team did a tremendous job killing off the Wolverines chances which included a 5 on 3 for almost two minutes and a double minor. 

Then with just over six minutes left, George King made magic happen. 

On a shot from the point off the stick off the newest King Cole DeKoninck, George redirected it in and that goal proved to be the winner.

Near the end of the game, the Kings went back to the box but Dauphin once again killed it off. 

Dauphin is now 8-5 on the season. They'll return to Credit Union Place tomorrow evening. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

Photo Credit - Dauphin Kings.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 19, 2018 - 10:41 pm

He's returning for his second season between the pipes for the Dauphin Clippers hockey team, and he'll once again be asked to be solid.

Bode Childs will be the team's top goaltender this season as they get set for another Westman High School Hockey League season.

"All in all, we have some younger guys that need to learn the ropes but that's like every team," said Childs. "I think we're going to be solid and I can't wait for the season to start."

Last season with the Clippers, Bode was fantastic with a 13-1-1 regular season record and he also had two shutouts. He then continued his solid play in the playoffs and was a big reason the team advanced to the league semifinals.

Going into this season, he knows he has to continue to work hard to have that same success, and perhaps even more.

"There's for sure a few things I need to tighten up on," said Childs. "But, for the most part, I think I have what it takes to help this team make it all the way to the end."

"I just have to focus on playing my game," he added. "Sometimes I get in my own head and that's when I struggle. I just need to keep it simple and play like I know I can."

Bode and the Clippers have already played three games. Now, they'll finish their pre-season this weekend with a home and home against Swan River. Tomorrow's game is in Swan River before the teams return to Credit Union Place on Sunday afternoon.

Despite it just being the pre-season, Bode knows this is the last two chances for the team to prepare and iron out things heading into the regular season.

"I think this is a super important weekend for us as a team," added Childs. "We want to get two wins this weekend to build up some confidence. We're ready for the challenge, and we're hoping we can start firing on all cylinders."

Sunday's game is a 1:00 p.m. start right here in Dauphin. Wondering if you should come or not? Bode knows why you should.

"This is good hockey, and I know we're going to be a good hockey team," he added. "We would love the communities support out there."

Just like last year, the 16-year-old will once again be called upon for a good portion of the team's games this year. Knowing that he's just trying to stay loose and calm.

"I would say I'm fairly loose right now," added Childs. "I mean there is some pressure because I always want to push myself to be better then I have in the past. But, for the most part, I'm just pumped up and ready to go here."

Childs and the Clippers begin their regular season next Sunday at Credit Union Place at 5:00 p.m.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 19, 2018 - 1:21 pm

Wayde Johannesson has been a rookie, he's played in the SJHL, he's played for another team in the MJHL, and now he's a veteran with the Dauphin Kings.

The 20-year-old signed on with the Kings in the off-season heading into the Kings 51st season. He's also one of the team's Assistant Captains.

"I'm really liking the town here and we're playing some pretty good hockey," said Johannesson. "It's like a second home for me for sure."

Before coming to the Kings, Wayde played the better part of three seasons for the Waywaseecappo Wolverines. He was then dealt to Nipawin late last season. That's where he helped the club win the Canalta Cup before falling just short in the Anavet Cup against Steinbach.

"Playing in Nipawin was pretty awesome," said Johannesson. "Especially because we won the league. It was a pretty special experience."

Now, the 20-year-old will hope to bring that Championship experience to Dauphin as the Kings look to make a push this season.

So far this campaign, Wayde has been a regular on the scoresheet for the Kings. In 12 games, the defender has nine points (3 G). 

"I think going over to Nipawin definitely helped me improve my game," he added. "They definitely helped me develop during the time I was there, and they helped me become the player I am today. It's been a good start to the season, and I'm hoping that continues going forward."

"I feel the most important thing for us is to work hard every single shift and don't take any off," added Johannesson. "If we win battles, we'll win games.

Get To Know Wayde:

Hometown? Arnes, Manitoba.

Favourite NHL team: Philadelphia Flyers. Why? Growing up, Reggie Leach was from Riverton, Manitoba and I have a lot of family there and I just grew up watching him and the Flyers.

Favourite part about playing in Dauphin? The rink here. I always loved playing at this rink throughout my junior career, so it's pretty cool that I now get to play in it every single day.

How does it feel to be a Dauphin King? It's awesome, I couldn't be happier. I love it here and I'm hoping the year comes with a lot of success.

Pregame Ritual? We have a morning skate at 10, so I get up and brush my teeth then come to the rink. After that, I go to Tims and grab a coffee and maybe a sandwich and go for a nap. Then I'll get up and play some NHL 19, then have a pregame meal.

What's that meal? Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap from Subway. With shredded cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, pickles, green peppers, and onions. Also ranch, hot sauce, and barbeque sauce.

Ultimate Hockey Goal? To get a scholarship through hockey and play the game as long as I possibly can.

There is no doubt that Wayde is one of the biggest pieces to this year's Dauphin Kings. He's a veteran who knows how to score, and he also knows how to lock down the other team's best players as well.

Wayde's previous highest point total came back last season when he recorded 22 points in 51 games between Waywayseecappo and Nipawin Hawks.

So it's safe to say, Johannesson is well on his way to a career year with his already nine points in 12 games.

Want to know more about Wayde? Tune into the Dauphin Kings Power Play Show this afternoon after the 4:00 p.m. news, weather, and sports.

Photo Credit - Dauphin Kings.

You can also tune in during the first intermission of this evening's Dauphin Kings game to get to know him again.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 19, 2018 - 11:52 am

Hockey is Canada's game and the Grand Plains Minor Hockey Association is sure making sure it stays that way.

In the past, the GPMHA had roughly 50-60 players across four or five teams. This year, the numbers have increased drastically. 126 kids this year have signed up to play in the GPMHA, which more than doubles any total in the past.

Here are some of the numbers:

• Four Grand Plains Hawks teams.
• 17 kids (Intro to hockey).
• Two Novice teams (19 kids).
• 10 Atoms.
• Women's Ice Dogs (Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget team).

It's common to see the numbers for players increase by a small number. But, not often will you see the growth like the GPMHA will see this season.

Why the increase? 

"Brigette Lacquette is obviously a great inspiration around here for local hockey and she spoke to a bunch of our girls on a couple occasions," said Cary Fillion, Board Member. "As far as the increase in our girls hockey comes, women's hockey is the fastest growing sport in the world right now and we sort of took note of that when we started the program a few years back.

"It's awesome to see the numbers we have for this season. Both in the boys and girls,"

Now that registration is all over and the teams have been determined, practices are already underway as the Hawks and Ice Dogs prepare for what should be some great seasons.

"We started practices last week and this weekend, we have the Rink Academy from Winnipeg coming here and they'll be giving our kids six sessions on the ice," added Fillion. "Next weekend all the teams get right into their games and we're ready to roll."

Hockey, hockey, hockey. That's what everyone in the GPMHA is thinking right now, and Cary can't wait to get it going.

"Yeah, I'm very excited to get things going here," said Fillion. "Everyone seems like they're ready to roll and the numbers we have are incredible. With the numbers, both the arenas in Gilbert Plains and Grandview are jam-packed."

"We had some bumps along the road with scheduling and what not, but we've had a lot of help. It's going to be a great year,"

Keep it locked here to 730CKDM all winter long for tons of coverage on the Ice Dogs and Hawks. Hockey is here, and the GPMHA is ready to win!

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 19, 2018 - 10:18 am

The Dauphin Kings are Waywayseecappo bound. 

Last year, this matchup would have been a battle of the basement teams.

This year, that’s not even close to the case. 

The Wolverines (7-4-1) are in a tie for third in the MJHL heading into this evening. 

The Kings (7-5) are just one point back and sit in solo sixth. 

Dauphin will look to ride the momentum they built on Tuesday. They beat OCN, 6-3 in The Pas which is always a tough barn to win in regardless of the Blizzard’s struggles. 

The Wolverines meanwhile, will look to avenge a tough loss a couple days back. They let up a goal with 16 seconds left in a loss against the lowly Neepawa Natives.

Tonight could definitely be a showcase of two of the best goaltenders in the league. 

Isaac Labelle has been nothing short of tremendous for Wayway. 

On the Kings side, Brennan Kitchen has shown how elite he is. He’s also got some new pads that he will most likely wear beginning next week that look sweet. 

Whatever goes down tonight, you can hear all the action right here on 730CKDM. The Parkland Source for Sports pregame show hits the airwaves at 7:15.

Photo Credit - Dauphin Kings.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 19, 2018 - 6:50 am

He had a great season last year, and he picked up exactly where he left off this season.

17-year-old Riley Hammond will be the captain for the Dauphin Clippers hockey team this season. It'll be Hammond's third and final season with the Clippers.

"It definitely means a lot to me," said Hammond. "I'm proud to say I'm the captain of the team. I've been with this team for three years and it's like my second family. It's a special moment for me."

Hammond and the rest of the Clippers played in the Glenboro tournament this past weekend, and what a weekend it was. The team went 2-1 and Riley was on fire.

He scored six goals in the team's three contests, including a hat-trick in their first contest against St. Thomas.

"It was definitely a good start with the two wins there, but we should have had three," added Hammond. "I was pretty pleased with how I played. But, you have to give a lot of credit to my teammates for my success. They're the guys who set me up with those chances, and I just made the most of them."

It's safe to say based off his start, Hammond could be well on his way to a career year. Last season he had 48 points in just 23 regular season contests and was the team's leading scorer. That included one four-goal game and another where he scored a hat-trick. He also had a season-high seven points in one game against Sandy Bay.

Despite all this production and his red-hot start to this season, when it comes down to the regular season, Hammond's main goal is winning, not scoring.

"I'm not really worried about the individual results, to be honest," said Hammond. "I'm just focused on team stats and getting to where we want to be."

"I think we're going to be a pretty good team this year," he added. "I think we have a pretty good chance at winning this league. That's the only thing I'm focused on."

Last year, Hammond and the Clippers came up just short as they fell to Killarney in the league semifinals. Only a couple players have departed from that excellent team that went 22-1-0-1 in the regular season. 

"It was definitely a good run last year, but we ended up falling short," said Hammond. "We want to improve on that and go all the way."

On Sunday, October, 28, the Clippers will start things for real. They'll play their home opener against the Swan River Tigers. Riley knows this will be his last home opener with the team and could end up being an emotional one.

"I think it'll be a little more special than previous home openers," said Hammond. "It's my last home opener in my high school hockey career, so I'm hoping it goes well. It should be fun."

Riley and the Clippers are at Credit Union Place this Sunday. They play a pre-season game against those same Tigers at 1:00 p.m.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 18, 2018 - 1:42 pm

If you didn't already know, the Gilbert Plains Country Club is back open for you golfers!

Because of the nice weather that's expected and we're having right now, the course will be open until Sunday.

"I would say the course is in great shape," said Scott McCallum, General Manager. "Little bit of moisture but we're pretty green. Guys are blowing most of the leaves into the bush."

You can book a tee time by giving the GPCC a call at 548-3030.

The cost is just $25 with a cart and you can golf all day long.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 18, 2018 - 12:24 pm

Brennan Kitchen is back with the Dauphin Kings, and he's all hands on deck to make this season one to remember.

The 20-year-old goalie from Ontario quickly became a fan favourite when he arrived in Dauphin last season. Perhaps his best game in a Kings uniform was last season when he made 52 saves in a 3-2 win against Steinbach.

If you missed that game, let's go back to his massive save that kept the game going before McCullough Park scored the winner.

Now we fast forward to this season and the Kings are 7-5 through their first 12 games.

"We haven't had the quickest start and we're still trying to figure out the small things here and there," said Kitchen. "We have a lot of change over from last year so we're trying to figure out our chemistry. We're showing a lot of potential so far for sure."

Although perhaps the Kings aren't off to the start they wanted to, they're still considered as one of the league's best teams and Brennan knows the club isn't far away from making a big move.

"I think we're really close here," said Kitchen. "We've been competitive for basically every game this season. We've had some lapses here and there but the majority of the games were right in it."

To start the campaign, Kitchen is 5-4 with a 3.06 G.A.A and a .910 save percentage. 

"I could always be better absolutely," added Kitchen. "Those little lapses come at odd times and I need to be ready for those. We as a team haven't played a full 60 minutes in games and I need to be ready when teams come out hot."

Going forward this season, Brennan's goal is to win a Championship with this team. But, he also knows this is his final year of junior hockey and his goal is to play collegiate hockey next season. That means, besides winning a Championship, he has some other goals set for himself as well.

"I think I have goals in every single category," said Kitchen. "I think, first of all, it's important to have a good win/loss ratio. I think as long as we're winning, I can improve my other stats more as well."

"I mean you look at Steinbach last year and their dominance," he added. "They won a ton of games and ended up graduating a bunch of players to the next level. Teams at the next level will naturally look at teams that have winning records."

Now Kitchen and the Kings are preparing for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Last year the two clubs were 10th and 11th in the standings to end the season. This year, that's not even close to the case.

The Kings 7-5 record has them tied for 5th place right now and they're just four points behind the first place Portage Terriers. After giving up a goal with 16 seconds left last night, the Wolverines are 7-4-1 and have one more point then the Kings. So, it's safe to say that tomorrow should be a fantastic hockey game.

"I'm definitely really excited for tomorrow's game for sure," added Kitchen. "The competition level will be strong and the stakes are pretty high. They're in the position we want to be in, so we'll be going out there hard."

You can see Brennan and the Kings back in action at Credit Union Place on Saturday.

They welcome the same Waywayseecappo Wolverines to town to wrap up a home and home weekend set.

Photo Credit - Dauphin Kings.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 18, 2018 - 10:45 am

It's been a very tough start to the season for the OCN Blizzard.

But, Alonsa's Dustin Mozdzen has been doing everything he can to help the team.

In nine games with the club this season, Dustin has five points (3 G).

"Yeah, I mean it's been a struggle since the start of the season obviously," said Mozdzen. "We got a win against Steinbach and had a pretty close game against Dauphin I thought, so we're improving right now. I'm just trying to help the team in anyway I possibly can."

"We've come a long way since our first game that's for sure," he added. "We're working together better and we're bonding pretty well. I think things are going to turn around."

Despite losing nine games in their first 10 contests, the Blizzard have put up some pretty decent fights. They've lost three games by one goal. The struggles have shown up most this season when they've lost six games by three or more goals. So no, things haven't been going the way OCN would have hoped for, but there's still tons of hockey to play.

"We're going to keep fighting for sure, there's no doubt about that," said Mozdzen. "It's really early. I know things aren't looking good right now, but I think we have the ability to make something out of this season."

Last night against Dauphin, the Blizzard held a 3-2 lead early in the second period. From there, they were outworked and made some big mistakes and those mistakes led to Dauphin goals for the most part as they lost 6-3. The club also gave up one goal while Dauphin was on the PP.

"As a team, we definitely have to be more disciplined out there, because it's hard to have success when you're in the box," added Mozdzen. "We just need to make things easier on ourselves. We're making things harder then they need to be, and that's why we struggle at times."

With his five points in nine games, Mozdzen's off to a solid start. He's well on his way to notching a career high in points in the MJHL. His previous high was 14 last year. 

"I don't really have any personal goals as far as points come," said Mozdzen. "I'm just trying to improve as much as I can. I want to help out the team as much as possible so we can turn the ship around."

One of Dustin's goals this season came last night against Dauphin when he got away on a breakaway. 

The 19-year-old also had another chance later in the game on another breakaway but this time he couldn't capitalize as Brennan Kitchen made a nice save on him. 

Dustin started his campaign at Dauphin Kings Training Camp this year before he was traded back to OCN.

"That felt amazing to score that goal," said Mozdzen. "I don't think there's a better feeling out there. I just wish I could have gotten that second one as well."

Growing up in the Parkland and now living in the Norman region, Dustin's getting more used to it every day.

"I like it here," said Mozdzen. "It's an outdoorsy community and that's what I'm all about. We have great fans and it's just a good place all around."

Dustin and the rest of the Blizzard are back on the ice this weekend as they have a three-game in three-day road trip.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Oct 17, 2018 - 1:39 pm