ESTEVAN, SK – The Dauphin Kings will have a chance to book their ticket to the Centennial Cup semi-final when they take on the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) champion, Soo Thunderbirds on Wednesday afternoon.
In the Kings opener on Friday afternoon against the Ottawa Junior Senators (CCHL), Carson Cherepak backstopped the team after a slow start and the Kings were able to come away with a close 2-1 victory to open play in Group B.
Back at it on Sunday against the Summerside Western Capitals (MHL), Dauphin exploded in the second period after another quiet start. Scoring five goals in the 2nd while adding another pair in the 3rd, the Kings came away with a 7-1 win after going 5-for-7 on the man-advantage.
The battle of Manitoba lived up to the hype on Tuesday afternoon in Estevan as sixty minutes solved nothing between the Dauphin Kings and Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL). After five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime, the two teams would exchange goals in the shootout before Flin Flon would score the winner to take a 2-1 shootout victory.
After Summerside defeated Ottawa, one point in Wednesday’s game against the Soo will see the Kings advance to the Centennial Cup Semi-final.
Find out more about the Soo and how they booked their ticket to Estevan.
HOW THEY GOT TO ESTEVAN
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Quarterfinal: defeated Blind River 4-0 (3-2, 3-0, 4-2, 4-1)
Semifinal: defeated Soo Eagles 4-0 (3-1, 4-3 OT, 4-1, 5-2)
NOJHL championship: defeated Hearst 4-3 (4-6, 2-3, 4-5 OT, 4-2, 3-2, 4-3 OT, 3-2 OT)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 38-5-5 (1st in NOJHL)
Goals for: 189 (3rd in NOJHL)
Goals against: 101 (1st in NOJHL)
Power play: 62 for 262 (23.7% – 2nd in NOJHL)
Penalty killing: 199 of 226 (88.1% – 1st in NOJHL)
Longest winning streak: 18 (Feb. 9-April 2)
Top 3 scorers:
• Cooper Foster – 18G 42A 60P (5th in NOJHL)
• Andrew Gibson – 21G 30A 51P (12th in NOJHL)
• Brock Santa Maria – 13G 29A 42P (22nd in NOJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-3
Goals for: 54
Goals against: 35
Power play: 16 for 77 (20.8%)
Penalty killing: 51 of 58 (87.9%)
Top 3 scorers:
• Michael Chaffay – 12G 11A 23P
• Cooper Foster – 8G 9A 17P
• Kelsey Ouellet – 5G 9A 14P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2012 – Soo Thunderbirds | fourth place | 2-3 | 12GF 15GA
2015 – Soo Thunderbirds | fifth place | 0-4 | 7GF 21GA
COMMITMENTS
Alfred Rotiroti – Rivier University (2022-23)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Oct. 4 – Honourable Mention
Oct. 11 – 19th
Oct. 18 – Honourable Mention
Oct. 25 – 18th
Nov. 1 – 13th
Nov. 8 – 9th
Nov. 15 – Honourable Mention
Nov. 22 – Honourable Mention
Nov. 29 – Honourable Mention
Dec. 6 – 19th
Dec. 13 – 17th
Dec. 20 – 15th
Feb. 7 – 18th
Feb. 14 – Honourable Mention
Feb. 21 – 10th
Feb. 28 – 9th
March 7 – 7th
March 14 – 7th
March 21 – 6th
