Kings vets recall junior hockey memories

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This article was published 18/03/2021 (1902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Dauphin Kings were on a steady climb and planned to put their fully stacked front end to good use in the 2020-21 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season. 

They sat third in the Northwest Division with a 3-3-0-0 record but were slowly gaining momentum when the league shut down on Nov. 11 and was ultimately cancelled in February.

The Kings graduating seniors had their two most recent seasons impacted by COVID-19, and although they didn’t have much time to showcase their talents this season, all six players will move on to play post-secondary hockey to some degree.

Over the past month, the Brandon Sun spoke to the coaches and graduating seniors on all four Westman-based MJHL teams: the Virden Oil Capitals, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, the Neepawa Natives and the Kings.

Each player reflected on their junior hockey career, what the game has meant to them, and what lies ahead in their future. 

Each coach reflected on the graduating class, the 2020-21 season and what lies ahead for their team. 

 

BRAEDEN YOUNG

 D.O.B.: Dec. 13, 2000  Position: Forward Height: 6’0” Weight: 195 lbs. Hometown: Prince George, B.C. Seasons in the MJHL: Two

Braeden Young is an in-your-face forward who likes to outsmart others in the corners. He played four seasons of junior hockey, two of them with the Dauphin Kings. 

Young spent half a season with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Oceanside Generals. He was recruited to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melfort Mustangs for his 18-year-old season, after a summer hockey camp he attended in Prince George, BC.

The forward moved to Dauphin for his final two years of junior, notching four goals and six assists in his 63 career regular-season games with the Kings.

Favourite junior hockey memory: “Junior hockey was amazing, met some great friends, made some lifelong friends for sure. Definitely maybe going to be some of the best times in my life. It’s sad to see it end so abruptly, but I’m still going to look back at it as a positive … The playoff stretch we did in Melfort was my favourite, made it to the finals the year I was there. We lost in Game 5 or 6 and that was pretty tough, but it was a great experience.”

Biggest influence in career: “Probably my brother, he kind of took the same path as me. He was a junior hockey player, a pretty good one too. I kind of got advice from him throughout the whole way and he helped me out a lot … he’s almost 10 years older.”

What’s next? Young is currently working on fire mitigation in Alberta. He’s also trying to keep in shape and waiting for his next opportunity to get on the ice, as he’s planning to play NCAA Division III hockey in the fall.

 

CHARLES MASSEY

D.O.B.: May 26, 2000 Position: Forward Height: 6’1” Weight: 195 lbs. Hometown: Tйmiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Que. Seasons in the MJHL: One

Charles Massey is an offensive forward who played four years of junior hockey, one of them with the Dauphin Kings. He spent his 17- and 18-year-old seasons playing for a junior league in Quebec, moving to the U.S. for his 19-year-old season.

Massey made a major impact during his short time in Dauphin, recording seven goals and three assists in just six games with the Kings, tying him at third in the league in goals.

Overall junior hockey experience: “It’s been an amazing experience … I made a lot of friends, travelled. It’s an amazing life experience and you learn a lot. You learn to play very good hockey at the same time, it was amazing … I wanted to chase my dream to play (NCAA) hockey and ultimately I (moved from Quebec) to get out of my comfort zone and play better hockey because in Manitoba junior hockey is actually very, very good.”

Favourite junior hockey memory: “Playing in New York was very special for me, but honestly playing in front of fans in Dauphin was probably my best memory, it just was an amazing feeling … it was a short time there but it was full of memories. (The) people of Dauphin and the community are amazing, they are so welcoming and open to people from Quebec and the French community. Honestly, the fans of the Dauphin Kings were just insane, people support the team and loved the Dauphin Kings and we loved the community too.” 

What’s next? Massey is currently deciding between two NCAA DIII schools for hockey, and plans to play while studying computer science in the fall. 

 

GRADY HOBBS 

D.O.B.: Mar. 18, 2000 Position: Forward Height: 5’ 8” Weight: 175 lbs. Hometown: Deloraine. Seasons in the MJHL: Five

Grady Hobbs is a hard-working player who likes to go to the net and find ways to score. He joined the Kings as a 16-year-old, spending five seasons with them. 

Hobbs captained the 2020-21 Kings, after serving as an alternate captain the previous season. He’s played more games for Dauphin than any other Kings player currently on the roster. Hobbs contributed 78 goals and 81 assists, totalling 159 points in 230 career games with the Kings.

The forward secured 11 points in the six games he played this season, putting him in the top-nine point scorers across the league. 

Being a leader on the team: “It was definitely fun being close to home, having my family and friends always being able to come watch. Met a lot of great guys, had a lot of great teammates, had a lot of great coaches and good billets, so it was a really great experience for me … This would’ve been my fifth year with Dauphin if I had played the full year, so I was around for a while. I learned lots from the older guys when I first came in, so it was kind of nice to have a role to help the younger guys in the past few years.” 

Favourite MJHL memory: “Winning that playoff game last year against the Portage Terriers. It was part of the season that got cancelled. I scored in double overtime, so that’s probably my favourite memory.” 

What’s next? Hobbs will be playing NCAA DI hockey with the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers starting in the fall, while taking business management. 

 

KOBY MORRISSEAU 

D.O.B.: Oct. 18, 2000 Position: Forward Height: 6’3” Weight: 195 lbs. Hometown: Grandview. Seasons in the MJHL: Two

Koby Morrisseau is a two-way power forward with some offensive skill. He had three seasons of Western Hockey League experience — first with the Spokane Chiefs, then with the Regina Pats — before transitioning to the MJHL in his 19-year-old season, which he split between Dauphin and Portage.

Morrisseau was taken in the first round (ninth overall) by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. He played one season in Spokane and two in Regina, contributing eight goals and 10 assists in a career 43 regular-season WHL games. 

The forward, who was named an alternate captain for Dauphin this year, netted 19 goals and 24 assists in 34 regular-season MJHL games over the past two campaigns.

Favourite junior hockey memory: “It’d probably be going out there on the ice with the team every day for practices and then getting mentally prepared with the guys for games. It really gets your mind going and gets the goosebumps coming … Also my first WHL game, that was very surreal for me. It felt like nothing else in the world.” 

Dealing with the pandemic: “There was some struggling because you don’t get to go out there and play the game you love every day. It really did take that away, so you just miss it and cherish it a lot. It’s really mind-boggling, because the graduating players don’t really get to show their potential on the ice for their last remaining year of junior hockey, so it’s kind of difficult trying to go on, but I’m sure everyone will have a plan and figure it out.

Word of advice: “For the players coming into junior hockey, when you’re 16 or 17 years old, you just gotta cherish the moment, embrace the grind and do what your coach tells you to do. Trust the process and eventually everything will work out in your favour. Give it your all, don’t give a half effort in something you’re going to be doing and be committed to. Just stay committed and don’t give up on your dreams.”

What’s next? Morriseau is taking it easy at home for now. He plans to pursue his hockey career further in the future and would like to play at the U Sports level.

 

LAYNE TODER 

D.O.B.: Jan. 2, 2000 Position: Defenceman Height: 6’0” Weight: 180 lbs. Hometown: Elkhorn. Seasons in the MJHL: Three (partial)

Layne Toder is a two-way defenceman who likes to lead by example on the ice. He spent his 17-, 18-, and partial 19-year-old campaign with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. 

Toder is one of the few championship-winning seniors in the MJHL this year.

The blue-liner played for the Portage Terriers in his 16-year-old-season and helped his team to a Turnbull Cup by contributing 28 points in the regular season and nine points in the post-season.

He transferred back to the Terriers part way through his 19-year-old campaign and started off his senior year there.

Toder was traded to Dauphin after six games with Portage, playing just one game before the 2020-21 season was postponed and ultimately cancelled because of the pandemic.

Overall junior hockey experience: “I thought it was amazing, I got to meet a lot of new friends, lifelong friends that I’ll continue to talk to forever. I had an unbelievable experience with my coaches, they were all very caring and compassionate towards me. There was a lot of fun that I had over the time, just because of the people I was surrounded with … One of the highlights of my career was playing in Portage as a 16-year-old. We ended up winning the Turnbull Cup that year, which was a huge honour. It was amazing to see what playoff hockey was like and how everyone came together, it was basically a band of brothers.”

Biggest influences in career: “Probably my brothers. We get on each other a lot, but that’s a pushing factor. I think they’re pretty special to be around and whenever I’m down in the dumps I can go to them, and they’re always there for me … I have two older brothers who are 26 and 25, then a younger brother who just turned 18.” 

Biggest lesson learned: “Don’t take any day for granted, because it goes by quicker than you think. I remember sitting on the bus when I was 16, talking to the 20-year-olds and they’re saying how it goes by so quick. Now I’m 20 years old and it has blown by pretty quick, especially these last two years … Hockey has made one of the biggest impacts. You learn from Day 1 that when you fall, get back up. There are just so many life lessons and people that you deal with. It teaches you how to make friends … I think for any child it’s crucial. It’s an amazing opportunity to play hockey, especially the levels I played at, and meeting the people I have, it’s pretty special.”

What’s next? Toder was traded to the British Columbia Hockey League’s Cowichan Valley Capitals shortly before the 2020-21 trade deadline. The BCHL is expected to start a shortened junior campaign in early April. Toder expects hockey will always be in his life, whether it’s through playing or coaching. He plans to attend post-secondary in the future and is currently deciding between a few schools.

 

VINCENT NARDONE 

D.O.B.: Oct. 31, 2000  Position: Forward Height: 5’11” Weight: 155 lbs. Hometown: Rosemиre, Que. Seasons in the MJHL: One

Vincent Nardone is a speedy forward who loves to play offensive hockey. He’s played three seasons of junior hockey, one of them with the Dauphin Kings. 

Nardone spent his 17-year-old season with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers, accumulating 39 points (17G, 22A) in 56 regular-season games. He spent his next season split between two BCHL teams, charting 11 goals and 18 assists in 53 games.

The forward got off to a solid start in the MJHL before it shut down this season, notching seven assists in six games.

Overall junior experience: “It’s been nice, I grew up a lot. I came into junior hockey, I was 17 years old and now I’m 20. It doesn’t seem like that much but I can tell you I grew up a lot during those years, physically and mentally. I think it was just really good for me and brings a lot of positives in my life … I never asked myself why I’m playing hockey, it’s just always been a ritual every year. I train during summer, play during winter and I love it.”

Playing in multiple leagues: “Every year would always be a change because I would miss my other team, the last team that I played with. But when you get to know the boys and get along with them, it’s just a new experience every time and a new place you get to go, so it’s actually fun. It’s just missing people, because you know you won’t really see them once you leave. Some guys come from, let’s say Minnesota, others from Ontario, so it’s all far. That’s what makes it sad about switching teams every time, it’s leaving the boys.”

What’s next? Nardone is attending the University of Nebraska Omaha in the fall to take his master’s in business and play NCAA DI hockey.

 

COACH REFLECTION:

Dauphin Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley’s first reaction upon the pause to the 2020-21 MJHL season was a disappointment. As the paused season was prolonged and then eventually cancelled, his disappointment turned into frustration, especially for the graduating seniors.

“You kind of build a team for two years and have very talented players here, I think our top two lines were as good as anybody’s in the league. I’m not saying that guarantees anything, but we had some great hockey players here with great attitudes and work ethic,” Hedley said.

“You look at the 2000-born kids, and I think it was just a matter of wrong place, wrong time. Last year, their playoffs were cancelled, this year they get in three exhibition games and six regular-season games, so nine games total over the past year.”

Hedley mentioned how his team was doing temperature checks twice a day, and if players exhibited any symptoms they were told to stay home until they were tested and given results.

The Kings has to quarantine because of possible COVID-19 exposure after playing the OCN Blizzard at the end of October, but never contracted a single case. None of the teams located within the Prairie Mountain Health Region did, either.

The league sent players home on Nov. 11 because of an uptick of COVID-19 concerns but originally planned to be back in the new year.

Hedley took a chance and invited all his out-of-province players back just after Christmas, putting all Eastern players through a provincially mandated two-week quarantine for a second time that season.

The hopes were the restrictions were going to lift on Jan. 25, so by the time they wrapped their quarantines they’d be ready to join the team. When the return to play didn’t happen on that date, Hedley knew the league’s chances of returning weren’t looking great.

Looking ahead to next season, Hedley is hoping to reload and replace the offence his team is losing this year.

“Our back end is very solid, our goaltending is good and we just need to try and replace some of the scoring,” Hedley said.

Manitoba kids on the roster are skating 14 sessions with the Kings, until the end of March. Hedley couldn’t justify bringing the out-of-province kids back for yet another quarantine. 

The coach also invited five AAA U18 Parkland Rangers players on their protected list to practise with the team, and he likes what he’s been seeing from those young players.

Even though the 2020-21 graduating seniors didn’t get to fight for a championship this season, Hedley is proud of how they handled themselves through the ups and downs. 

All of the 2020-21 graduating class is lined up to play post-secondary hockey at some level.

“When you’re playing your last year, that’s what you want,” Hedley said. “Obviously, taking a run at a championship is definitely the first priority for them, but playing at the next level is also a life goal for them and hopefully we can help them with that.”

 » dshewchuk@brandonsun.com 

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