Kings Ready To Host:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Kings ready to host

Published: April 27, 2010

DAUPHIN, MAN. – When the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season began Sept. 11, the Dauphin Kings were favoured to win the Turnbull Trophy.

According to head coach/GM Marlin Murray, the team had set a goal of 48 wins.

“We felt we needed that to get to first place,” he said. “Obviously by having 50, we surpassed that goal.”

From day one of training camp, expectations have been high for the Kings, who open the Royal Bank Cup Saturday night against the Vernon Vipers.

“Right from day one, the goals were high and we wanted to have a winner here in Dauphin,” said Murray. “After it’s all taken place and you look back at it, you just kind of say, ‘wow.’ But expectations around the dressing room and for the staff is we want to win this thing.”

The Kings won the MJHL title at 50-11-1-0, setting franchise records in wins and points.

Murray said the chase for 50 wins kept the Kings focussed and motivated after they had clinched first with about 10 games left in the regular season.

“We wanted to keep the guys active and hungry. And once we got to the playoffs, we were playing some real good hockey and we just kept that going once the playoffs got started.”

While the Kings are obviously a highly skilled unit, Murray cites three keys to the team’s success – work ethic, attention to detail and structure.

“We don’t get outworked very often. We’ve played upwards of 80 games this year and even if we didn’t get the result we wanted, for the most part we’ve been the hardest working team in those games,” he said.

“For us to have a real skilled hockey team with individuals who are real good players, sometimes their ice times could be cut and sometimes they have to adapt to another role.”

Murray cites the team’s checking line of Mitch Czibere, Cody Esposito and Troy Hunter as an example. All three are highly skilled and could be on any team’s top line.

“But they’re happy to be on our checking line,” said Murray.

“They know their role and they’re hard to play against. They shut down the opposition’s line while they still put the puck in the net, as well.”

Murray states the line matching throughout the playoffs has also been a key to the team’s success.

“Our attention to detail with matching lines was excellent. Once their match up comes off the ice, our players come off, as well. They change and they buy into that,” he said.

“And the last thing would be our team chemistry and the way we like each other, the way we stick up for each other and the way we go to bat for each other. It’s a real likable group. There’s not one or two cliques in that room. It’s 22 individuals with one common cause. And that common cause is to come to the rink every day, work your butts off and we’ll be successful because our skill level will take over.”

Heading into the RBC Cup, the Kings have one goal.

“We want to win it,” Murray said.

“I think if we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to have a good opportunity to put ourselves in a position to play for on Sunday for a championship. But, obviously, we can’t get sidetracked. Our work ethic is going to have to be key. Our structured systems is going to have to be key in what we want to do on a day-to-day basis. And if we get those two ingredients, I think our skill level will take over at some point.

“It’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be the best teams in Canada here in Dauphin. But I think people are beginning to take note that we’re a pretty good hockey team, too.”