A season of lessons
Describing last year as “tough” doesn’t do it justice. It’s been more of the same that has plagued the Monarchs for the past few seasons. The players care. They give the game all they have, but they have struggled to be competitive game in and game out the last few seasons.
More change around the team could provide a positive chance to reset as they simply haven’t found the on and off ice consistency required as they enter year six as an organization. Expecting plenty of change on and off the ice this season as a new crop of players will hit the sheet in some of the best-looking jersey’s in the league.
A new voice
Riley Dudar will be the Monarchs Head Coach for the upcoming season, a widely respected skill development coach who has worked with some of the best amateur and professional talent in the province over recent years.
“I’m extremely excited and grateful to join the Winnipeg Monarchs organization and help build a new direction and identity for the program,” Dudar stated. “My focus is to create a high-performance development environment for players who strive to move on to the next level as quickly as possible. I want the Monarchs to become a place where players come to train, compete, build habits, and prepare themselves for higher levels of hockey and life. Our program will focus on daily improvement, accountability, relationships, and helping players maximize their potential both on and off the ice.”
The program needs stability and consistency. Someone who can make the product on the ice more competitive, while also recruiting players to build on. Dudar has surrounded himself with a solid staff and time will tell which direction they go in.
2026-27 season outlook
If Dudar can build a solid competitive base and start advancing players to the next level, that can be a real positive in the Monarchs search for consistency in player retention and player recruitment.
Many times, last year, the Monarchs were that pesky, irritating team that always worked hard. If they can keep that sort of attitude while developing at a quicker rate, there’s a real chance to move toward something very positive.
