By Derek Holtom & Scott Fisher /

Dauphin Kings
Marlin Murray has a big challenge in front of him this year as the RBC hosts will be expected to field an extremely strong team. They have already added some new faces from out of province in a bid to put them over the top. They recently acquired 18-year-old defenceman Koltyn Miller from Nipawin Hawks for 20-year-old defenceman Brad Biggers and 19-year-old forward Curtis Brolund, 19-year-old defenceman Mike Boese from the Fort Frances Sabres of the SIJHL for future considerations, and 20-year-old forward Dustin Fummerton from the North Bay Hawks. Expect a lot of new faces in Dauphin this year, but also some familiar and talented faces such as Shane Luke. Fans should also expect a lot of wins. The loss of general manager Darcy Dawson should not be a big deal for the Kings, as they have been grooming Murray for this position for some time.

Neepawa Natives
It’s a new era in Neepawa as head coach Bryant Perrier takes over a team full of returning veterans. The Natives could be poised to move up the standings this year after earning the first-ever crossover playoff spot in MJHL history last year against the Winnipeg Saints. In goal, they have two potential starters in Elie Houle and Matt Shenher. Perhaps one of them will be moved for additional depth elsewhere? Scorers such as Eli Halcrow and Kamsack, Sask., product Riley Currie gives them legitimate goal scorers. As long as the new bench boss can adapt to a new league and get his team on the same page, there’s no reason the Natives won’t be a playoff team.

OCN Blizzard
Much like the Natives, the OCN Blizzard have a veteran team back with a new head coach. The goal for Scott McMillan will be to quickly adapt to the MJHL and help the team fulfill it’s potential. Doug Hedley got the axe last year after the organization felt they should have made it further into the playoffs. With sniper Zeanan Buternowski (fifth leading scorer in the MJHL last year) leading the attack, and workhorse David Aime in goal, the Blizzard are another team which seems destined for the playoffs. But with so many tough teams in the Sher-Wood Division, will the Blizzard have enough to get back to the league final?

Portage Terriers
A repeat for the defending champions? Maybe not this time out. The Terriers lose Riley Nixdorf, Carson Rowat and Canadian Junior A player of the year Eric Delong to graduation, while rookie sensation Brendan Walker left for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings (themselves hosts to the national championship for major junior hockey). The Terriers do have the advantage of proximity to Winnipeg, home of half the population in Manitoba yet only two junior hockey team, and a winning tradition. They did add 19-year-old forward Kyle Turgeon from the Fort Frances Sabres of the SIJHL for future considerations, and there’s little doubt they’ll try to add talent to stay competitive given the opportunity. But tops in the division again? Unlikely.

Swan Valley Stampeders
Simply put, it was the worst season ever for the Swan Valley Stampeders. Guy Vestby is now just general manager, and Dwayne Kirkup has taken over as the team’s new head coach. A young team last year, the Stampeders have some new and old faces returning – but will it be enough? Veteran forward Myles Stevens will once again be counted on for plenty of offence, as will local product Darcy Riddell. The team will also rely on netminder Chris Ward, who will have his family here in Swan River this year as they just opened a Tim Horton’s franchise in the community. Kirkup has said everyone starts at zero this year, so some veterans being cut in training camp is not out of the question.

Winnipeg Saints
The Addison Division champion Saints have found their man.
After Doug Stokes retired from coaching during the off-season, the club started its search for a new bench boss.
Enter Keith Cassidy, who is no stranger to success. Cassidy led the Selkirk Steelers to 138 wins over three seasons, including the 2007 MJHL title.
Now the Saints need to find a replacement for Dan Watt, who left for Nippissing University after leading the MJHL with 62 goals and 136 points last season.

Selkirk Steelers
Being successful has its privleges and its downfalls.
The Steelers, who haven’t finished worse than fifth in the MJHL the past seven seasons, certainly have the drawing power to attract young talent to their organization.
But those players eventually move on. This off-season, the 2007 MJHL champions are looking to replace Adam Pieskach, Russ Payne and Blair Hawes, who have moved on to college and professional teams.

Waywayseecappo Wolverines
The Wolverines might be taking a step back this year. They lose five of their top six scorers from last season, a veteran team which gave the Terriers a bit of a scare in the opening round of the playoffs. But head coach Barry Butler has brought a level of respect to the Wolverines’ franchise, and they’re not likely to revert to their single-digit wins totals from a few year’s back. Butler will also be involved in the World Junior A tournament in Summerside, P.E.I., this November, so that will keep him busy this fall. Ryan Regel would be the top scorer from last year eligible to return, and he only had 36 points. With Jayme Janzen in goal, the Wolverines have a solid veteran they can count on (he played the most minutes of any MJHL goalie last year). The Wolverines also recently completed a deal in their own division, as the Portage Terriers shipped 19-year-old defenceman, Brentt Becker to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines for 19-year-old forward Doug McLeod.
The Wolverines look to be one of three teams who will vie for fourth place in this division. The others being Swan Valley and Neepawa.
Dauphin should take the division title this year. OCN might have an inside track on second place, but Portage will likely try to reload and keep home-ice advantage in the first round.

Winkler Flyers
The town of Winkler is used to hosting major events. Hockey Night in Canada broadcasted its ‘Hockey Day in Canada’ live from the Manitoba town in 2008.
Now Winkler is set to host the MJHL All Star Challenge Jan. 22-23.
“The Flyers have always done well with whatever league and, even in some cases, regional and national events that they’ve put on recently and so their request was met with a great deal of positive reaction from the other members of the league,” said MJHL commissioner Kim Davis.

Winnipeg South Blues
After finishing the 2008-09 campaign with a 20-42 record, the Blues have been busy bringing in new talent over the off-season.
The Blues acquired 16-year-old defenceman Channing Bresciani from the Waywayseecappo as the future considerations from an earlier deal this summer.
Forwards Brendan O’Donnell and Connor Cleverley, who helped the Winnipeg Wild win a provincial title last season, have also signed with the Blues.
They’ll join 19-year-old forward Sean Ouellette, who was plucked from the Neepawa Natives earlier this summer.
The Blues begin camp Aug. 29 at the Canlan Arena.

Steinbach Pistons
The Wolverines might be taking a step back this year. They lose five of their top six scorers from last season, a veteran team which gave the Terriers a bit of a scare in the opening round of the playoffs. But head coach Barry Butler has brought a level of respect to the Wolverines’ franchise, and they’re not likely to revert to their single-digit wins totals from a few year’s back. Butler will also be involved in the World Junior A tournament in Summerside, P.E.I., this November, so that will keep him busy this fall. Ryan Regel would be the top scorer from last year eligible to return, and he only had 36 points. With Jayme Janzen in goal, the Wolverines have a solid veteran they can count on (he played the most minutes of any MJHL goalie last year). The Wolverines also recently completed a deal in their own division, as the Portage Terriers shipped 19-year-old defenceman, Brentt Becker to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines for 19-year-old forward Doug McLeod.
The Wolverines look to be one of three teams who will vie for fourth place in this division. The others being Swan Valley and Neepawa.
Dauphin should take the division title this year. OCN might have an inside track on second place, but Portage will likely try to reload and keep home-ice advantage in the first round.