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JJ Love is a national champion, and you can celebrate with him on Friday afternoon.

After stunning the nation at the national championships in Brandon last month, JJ and his teammates are set to continue the celebration with a parade and rally. The parade begins on Friday at noon.

The parade will feature a fire and police escort that will begin at Fire Hall No. 1, travel along 18th Street, and then turn onto Princess Avenue. The players and coaching staff will ride in emergency vehicles, escorted through the streets by first responders.

Once the parade reaches 20th Street, the team will disembark and walk up 20th Street toward the HLC, where the rally will be.

"We want everyone to line up on 20th Street, which is the street that goes straight down the back side of Brandon University and into the front door of the Healthy Living Centre," said Chris Falkevitch, Bobcats Information and Marketing. "The guys will get out of the vehicles on 20th Street, walk down the last block with the trophy, and we want everyone to welcome them and celebrate with us."

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The festivities will move inside the main gym for the rally, which begins at 12:30. The rally will include speeches from players, coaches, and Brandon University officials.

"This is only the fifth national title in Brandon's history and the first one for the volleyball program, which has been around for 20 years," ended Falkevitch. "This is the first national title since the 1996 basketball team. It's time to celebrate, and we welcome everyone to join the fun."

Cole Sheffield had a superb .926 save percentage and an excellent 1.99 goals-against average in round one of the Turnbull Cup playoffs against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.

His team in front of him stuck with the process and scored 16 goals. The Kings won the series in five games and moved to the second round for the first time since 2022.

"Yeah, it was a really good round for us. Wayway came to play; we knew it wasn't going to be an easy series," said Sheffield. "We had a good week of practicing leading up to round one. We found our feet and got the job done at the end of the day."

Finishing fourth in the MGEU West Division, the Wolverines gave it their all. Game three was a close contest, decided by just one goal. The Wolverines bounced back to win game four, and game five was another tight matchup, with the result determined by a single goal. Dauphin had to battle through some adversity and Sheffield believes that'll be beneficial for the team moving forward.

"I think that's huge. Just having the mindset of not getting too comfortable in games, anything can happen, it's the playoffs," continued Sheffield. "Every game was close, so we had the mindset of being dialled in for an entire 60 minutes, and that's what we did."

As Dauphin prepares to open round two on Friday in Portage, Sheffield has finalized his future plans. Cole is the second King this season to commit to an NCAA Division 1 program. The 20-year-old star from London has committed to joining the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for the 2025-26 season.

The Bulldogs play in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and have won three national championships, their most recent in 2019. That capped off a run of two-straight national titles.

"It feels great. I've been super patient with it, and it's come at a great time," said Sheffield. "I can't thank my family, coaches, and my teammates enough. Having them in front of me making my life easier is perfect. It feels really good."

Cole broke onto the scene as a junior hockey goalie when he was 16 with the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). He became a King in the 2022-23 season and has won 73 regular-season games with Dauphin and eight so far in the playoffs.

Earning an NCAA Division 1 scholarship has been his ultimate dream, a goal he’s tirelessly worked toward for years. But these opportunities aren’t handed out easily—they're earned through dedication, passion, and perseverance. Sheffield has poured his heart and soul into not only becoming an elite goaltender but also shaping himself into a person of integrity and character. Every sacrifice, every early morning, and every late night has been for this moment.

"Ever since I stepped into Junior A, this has been my goal," continued Sheffield. "It's taken patience and a ton of hard work. It feels good to finally be here."

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Sheffield will lead the Kings into Portage on Friday to play the Terriers. Dauphin and Portage split their four-game season series, and a berth in the Turnbull Cup final is on the line. Both teams play with speed, have elite skill, and know how to finish games.

"They're very well coached and have four solid lines, they can all score," continued Sheffield. "They're a hard working team, we have to be ready to go to war."

Sheffield adds that the team is feeling great heading into the series.

"We're just taking it one day at a time and not getting too ahead of ourselves," said Sheffield. "It's been a fun week prepping for the series."

Cole also wants to give a big shout-out to Kings fans. Not only did they pack Credit Union Place in round one, but a dedicated group also went to Waywayseecappo to watch games two and four. Much of the same can be expected beginning Friday.

"Everyone has been super supportive during my three years here; it's always amazing skating out to a bunch of horns, and them being right into it," ended Sheffield. "Knowing our fans are there, it makes the difference."

.You can catch Darnell Duff's full chat with Cole Sheffield during the Dauphin Kings Power Play Show on Friday afternoon at 4:05. 

Kyan Grouette said he will be good to go on Friday when his Portage Terriers open the Turnbull Cup semifinals on home ice against the Dauphin Kings.

The Dauphin star took a nasty hit from behind on Monday in game six against Steinbach, and despite leaving the game, he returned to the bench to celebrate with his team after they bounced the Pistons from the playoffs.

"I'm excited to move onto round two," said Grouette. "Excited to get healthy and back on the ice battling with the guys."

Grouette was traded by the Kings before the regular season started this year. He ended up in Virden. He played 26 games with the Oil Capitals, scoring once and collecting five points. 

"I loved Virden; it was a great spot," continued Grouette. "The guys were great and welcomed me with open arms, it was a good time."

When the trade deadline approached, Grouette saw himself again packing his bags. This time, he was heading to an East Division team as he was acquired by the Portage Terriers. Grouette arrived in Portage ready to go.

He was again tasked with learning a new system, meshing with a new group of players, and playing under new coaches. While that's a challenge for some, it was a seamless process for the star from Dauphin.

"The coaches are great here, and the guys are unreal," continued Grouette. "On and off the ice, they're great. My time in Portage has been fantastic, it's always great playing on a very good team."

Grouette capped off the regular season with 19 games for Portage, netting two goals and adding four points. His first strike in the Green & White came on January 22 against Niverville, and less than two weeks later, he lit the lamp again in a win over Steinbach on February 2.

"I fit in as a guy that will do anything to win, simple as that," said Grouette. "That's how I've always played the game and how I enjoy doing it. I'll do whatever it takes and go wherever I'm needed."

Portage advanced to the semifinals on Monday with their 3-2 win over Steinbach. They eliminated the Pistons in six games in front of their home fans at Stride Place. For Grouette, playoff hockey is what it's all about.

"It's an unreal feeling when you go to war with the guys and succeed; there is no feeling that can replace it," commented Grouette. "When you work hard every day for an entire season, get a chance to play in the playoffs, and win a series, it's an unreal feeling. It makes you crave more."

Portage's semifinal series is against Kyan's former and hometown team, the Dauphin Kings. Dauphin advanced to the semifinals with a five-game series victory over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. It was the Kings that dealt Kyan away in September.

While Kyan shares no ill will toward the Kings, he's looking forward to showing them what he can do.

"I wouldn't say there's any bad blood. It did hurt, however, I won't lie," said Grouette. "There's a little more extra motivation for me coming into this series. I'm excited to start this series on Friday and head back home on Sunday, and hopefully, we can take them out."

Kyan believes Dauphin is a skilled team with great speed and depth. He knows a great battle is ahead, and the right to play for the Turnbull Cup is up for grabs. The winner of the best-of-seven series will play the winner of the series between Northern Manitoba and Winkler for a spot in the final.

Grouette says this is a moment he's been waiting for his entire life.

"It's unreal. I remember going to games as a kid and wanting to be in this spot," ended Grouette. "I've always wanted to win a ring for as long as I can remember. It's an incredible feeling to be in the final four. Now, we have to go get it and advance to the final."

Game one of this series is on Friday night before returning to Dauphin for game two. The full series schedule is here

The puck drops between the Dauphin Kings and Portage Terriers on Friday night at Stride Place.

The best-of-seven series will begin at Stride Place. Dauphin plays host to games two and four and, if need be, game six.

Series Schedule: *** denotes if necessary. 

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Ticket Information:

Round Two Advance Ticket Prices:
Adult (18+) - $15.00
Students (13-17) - $10.00
Children (6-12) - $5.00
5 & Under - $0

Season ticket holder seats will be held until game days. All non-season ticket holder seats are rush seating.

Round Two Game Day Prices:
Adult (18+) - $20.00
Students (13-17) - $15.00
Children (6-12) - $10.00
5 & Under - $0

Stay tuned for a series preview and more ahead of Friday. 

John Marshall began coaching in 1989 and 11 years later, he began coaching in Ebb & Flow First Nation.

Then, in 2006, he joined the Mountain View School Division and coached in Gilbert Plains. Throughout the years, Marshall has coached at Whitmore School, Mackenzie Middle School, and at the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS).

John has poured his heart and soul into helping young athletes develop on the court and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's a passion, I love it. I'm a gym rat. I love being around the players, the coaches, and the fans," said Marshall. "I enjoy the energy of games and the atmosphere. It's a wonderful place to be."

John has been coaching the junior varsity girls' team at the DRCSS for the past two years. Last year, as the 15-seed in a provincial qualifier, the Clippers pushed the number-two ranked Neelin Spartans to the final whistle before losing by one point.

Carrying that momentum into this season, it was a season to remember for the Green & White. They won a silver medal at the Linden Christian tournament to begin the season before defending home court to win the Clipper Classic. They also won the consolation title at the Crocus Plains tournament and finished second at the Northlands Parkway event. They were ranked as one of the top teams all season long and entered the provincial championships ranked second.

Marshall describes what made this team special.

"They never quit, were hard working, and everyone accepted their roles," commented Marshall. "Whether it was rebounding, scoring, or making good passes, everyone bought in. They hustled, executed, and communicated. It was a special group to work with."

At the provincial championships at the DRCSS, Dauphin hammered Stonewall in their first game before a comeback for the ages. Trailing by 11 points against Morden in their semifinal late in the third quarter, Dauphin staged an incredible comeback to down the Thunder by three points. It earned the team a spot in the provincial final.

For Marshall, it was a game he would never forget.

"It's right up there as far as being one of the greatest games I have been a part of," continued Marshall. "With contributions from different players, we were able to pull that one off. It was pretty special. My wife said she had never seen me jump so high at the end of a game. I was ecstatic with that win."

With an incredible basketball resume, John added another accolade. He was named the Coach of the Month in the Manitoba High School Athletics Association (MHSAA). 

"It's very humbling, and I appreciate it. With that said, I really want to put the players in the forefront. They're the ones that do the hard work; they're hustling," continued Marshall. "I'm proud to have won the award. I also want to give a shoutout to all of the incredible coaches in this area. They all devote countless hours to help young athletes flourish."

Now that the high school season is over, John is switching focus to the Dauphin Hawks program. He will coach the U-14 boys' team alongside his son, Logan. They've coached together before, and John is thrilled to share the court with his son again.

"We've had a lot of success, he's a great coach, and I'm very proud that he wants to follow in my footsteps," ended Marshall. "I'm extremely proud of my sons, they're great people, and great coaches."

John says basketball in Dauphin is in great shape and he's looking forward to what's next.

Two nights after eliminating the Waywayseecappo Wolverines from the playoffs, the Dauphin Kings know who their next opponent will be.

The Kings will head to Stride Place this weekend to open a best-of-seven semifinal series against the Portage Terriers. The Terriers scored two straight goals in the second period, including the game-winner, shorthanded, in a 3-2 win over the Steinbach Pistons on Monday night. 

Portage closed out the series in six games and will have home-ice advantage against the Kings after finishing with more points in the regular season. The series will also pit Kyan Grouette of Dauphin against his former team. 

Stay tuned to CKDM Sports soon for the schedule.

In the other series, Jayce Legaarden of Grandview will lead the Winkler Flyers into a series against the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. The Flyers will have home-ice advantage in that series, also scheduled to begin this weekend. 

The 2015 Parkland Junior Rangers showed that the United States has nothing on Canada.

Featuring players from Swan River, Dauphin, Pine Creek, Neepawa, McCreary, and Flin Flon, they dominated their competition at the Wild West Shootout in Bismarck, North Dakota. In the final, the Rangers hammered Elevated Hockey, 10-2.

They also beat 2016 Gold, 18-1; Flow, 8-1; and the Bakken Oilers, 10-2. They cruised from start to finish and captured a championship. The team includes Brett Hrappstead, Brody Nepinak, Connor Chartrand, Easton Billett, Easton Mateika, Eli Pangman, Grayson Henderson, Greyson Chartrand, Greyson Uyaivato, Jaxson Thompson, Maddux Morden, Noah Pangman, Tuck Rezansoff, William Powe, Gabriel Pawlachuk, and Zander Ledoux.

That's what you call defending your country, the Parkland Junior Rangers did that. 

Ena Morrisseau is a four-year member of the Parkland Gators Swim Club and is enjoying her first year in the competitive group.

The Dauphin standout added swimming to her packed schedule a few years back and hasn’t looked back—she thrives in the grind, from intense practices to fierce competitions, repping the Gators with pride.

"There's a lot of different people from different places around Dauphin, so it's nice to meet and swim with them," said Morrisseau.

Ena's favourite event is the 100m backstroke but it was a different event that saw her reach the podium. During an event last year in Brandon, Ena finished with a gold medal in the 50m backstroke. It was the first time she finished in first.

"I had never won first place before so when I got out of the pool and realized I finished on top, it was extremely special."

Ena also plays volleyball at Mackenzie Middle School and in the Dauphin Rec Hockey League. Her goals this year include improving her swimming techniques and her A time. When it comes to a post-game meal after a meet, Ena heads to the Pit.

"If we're in Winnipeg or Brandon, I like a nice Booster Juice and Pita Pit," ended Morriseau.

The Dauphin Kings are heading to the second round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs.

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines pushed, however, the Kings opened a two-goal lead and held on for a thrilling 3-2 win on Saturday night at Credit Union Place in front of an incredible crowd.

The win wrapped up the series in five games after Dauphin won the first three games before the Wolverines responded on Thursday night. Gabriel Bugeaud scored two goals in the game while Havryil Simchuk added Dauphin's other marker.

Cole Sheffield made some big saves, finishing the night with 25 saves. 

Dauphin will begin round two next weekend. Their three possible opponents are Niverville, Portage, or Steinbach.

Stay tuned to CKDM Sports to find out who and of course, Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson will have the call of every game. 

There was no stopping him. 

Whether there was traffic in front or it was just him and the goaltender, there was a good chance the puck was going into the back of the net. Cayden Glover was on his way to recording something that has not happened in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 13 years.

In the 2011-12 season, Jesse Sinatynski scored 59 goals with the Dauphin Kings. He is the last player in the MJHL to score 50 or more goals in a season. After 38 games this year, Cayden Glover had 33 goals and was on pace for 50. He had 11 multi-goal games, and between January 4 to January 25, the 20-year-old stud from Brandon had 10 goals and five assists. Glover was on a tear and fueling the Kings' offence in his final year of eligibility at the junior level.

"As a 20-year-old, you hope and dream to have a breakout season, which I was having," said Glover. "I couldn't have done it without my linemates, it wasn't just me. It's something you always hope to do in your last year of junior, it felt awesome."

Cayden's last regular season game as a Dauphin King came on Ukrainian Night on January 25. He was back in the lineup for the team's game on January 31 at Tundra Oil & Gas Place against the Virden Oil Capitals, however, Glover didn't finish that game. He suffered an upper-body injury late in the contest and missed the next 20 games.

We will never know if Cayden would have become the first 50-goal scorer in the league in more than a decade. What we will always remember, however, is the torrid start he was off to and how special of a player he had become.

"Having to sit in the stands and not being able to help your teammates is something I wouldn't wish on anyone," said Glover. "Having such a great season and to see it come to such an abrupt end was heartbreaking. It happens. I just had to battle through it and make sure I was there for my teammates."

Glover remained upbeat despite the heartbreak, knowing there would be light at the end of the tunnel. After his 20-game absence, Glover was back in the lineup for the Kings on March 21 as they opened the Turnbull Cup playoffs against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Cayden got a standing ovation as he hit the ice for warmups, and the rest is history.

"That was the best feeling ever. I was smiling the entire warmup; it was amazing to be back," continued Glover. "The pace was something to get used to, but I feel I have my stride back now."

Then two days after Dauphin secured a 4-1 win in game one, Glover scored his first goal since returning from injury as Dauphin downed the Wolverines 3-1 in game two. He also had one assist. 

"Scoring goals is always fun, and after missing so much time and getting that first one back, it was an amazing feeling," offered Glover. "The smile remained on my face for quite a while. It was great to get the monkey off my back."

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(Pederson Photographic)

Glover had another goal and one assist in game three as Dauphin went up three games to nothing with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Wolverines. On Thursday evening, they had a chance to close out the series, however, it wasn't to be. The Wolverines got a late goal and an empty-netter to seal it in a 5-3 victory.

Dauphin is still in the driver's seat, up three games to one heading into Saturday's game five.

"A little adversity is good for us; we know what it feels like to lose, and no one on our team wants to feel that," commented Glover. "That adversity will push us on Saturday to get the job done in front of our home crowd."

Glover also says the team is using last year's experience to their benefit. Dauphin lost to the Northern Manitoba Blizzard in a marathon seven-game series. Game six needed a fifth overtime, and game seven required a third overtime to decide the winner.

"Everyone that was here last year knows how it felt to lose that final game," said Glover. "It was a war with those guys. Everyone here will do whatever it takes to move on."

As a 20-year-old, Cayden is soaking up his final junior playoff journey.

"Everyone always tell you when you're younger how fast your junior hockey career flies by," said Glover. "I thought there was no way. Now that I've realized how quickly it has gone, it's bittersweet knowing this is my last run. With that said, that's why it's up to us to make this a special run."

Dauphin hosts game five on Saturday night at Credit Union Place at 7:30. Dauphin Kings fans, CG 71 is looking forward to seeing you in the crowd. So bring your noise makers and get ready to blow the roof off as Dauphin looks to advance to the second round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs.

"We have a special group and love playing in front of our fans; we have some of the best fans in the league," ended Glover. "We get a ton of energy from our fans and are looking forward to Saturday, we know how loud it's going to be."

Another exciting season of Parkland Pirates rugby is right around the corner.

Codi Harrigan with the Pirates program says registration is now open for the U-10 flag, while registration for U-12 and U-14 intro to tackle is also underway. The fee for the season for U-10 is $110, while it's $135 for U-12 and U-14.

"Rugby is a very athletic sport; we promote physical health," said Harrigan. "The rugby program as a whole in Dauphin, you see the high school kids hanging banners, and that starts at a young age. We get kids out of our program and have such a strong understanding of rugby. It pays to start early."

The U-12 and U-14 programs will begin on April 24, while the U-10 program will begin on May 6. All practices are at KIN Field. 

Harrigan has been involved in the program for years and has watched many incredible athletes rise through the ranks and achieve great things. He believes more of the same is on the way.

"Rugby in the Parkland is in very good hands; we have the right people in the right places right now," said Harrigan. "We're developing these phenomenal athletes on and off the field."

Codi is also enjoying every moment of watching his daughter grow in the sport.

"She's only nine, and she squats 90 pounds in the gym right beside me; it's quite an incredible feat," ended Harrigan. "She hits the gym three times a week and takes it serious. Many other kids are doing the same. I see them out and about, and they tell me they're looking forward to the spring program."

That spring program is right around the corner and early bird pricing is in effect until next Thursday, April 3. Click here for U-10 registration and here for the U-12 and U-14 programs.