It’s coming down to crunch time for those players hoping to crack the roster of the Dauphin Kings.

Dauphin played three preseason games, last week, starting with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Neepawa Titans, Tuesday, in a game which feature all-rookie lineups for both teams.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the rookies on the ice in that game played very well and had a lot of energy.

“We directed over 100 shots and had 65 and lost in a shootout. But at the same time, both goaltenders were really good,” he said. “We saw some speed, some energy, some hard work. It was a great game by our young kids.”

The next night against the Swan Valley Stampeders saw each team dressed some veterans, along with prospects hoping to make the team.

The result was a 5-0 Kings victory.

Hedley thought the back pressure was outstanding, as well as the work ethic and compete level.

“I really liked our speed and our work ethic. And we were fortunate enough to get some goals half way through the game,” he said.

The final game of the week was a rematch in Swan River, Friday.

After a slow start, the Kings picked it up, erasing a 2-0 first-period deficit to skate away with a 5-2 win.

“I thought our back end controlled the game. The two American kids (Trey Gnetz and Karson Raymond), both were very good. And I thought Wicks (Nolan Wickham) and Brooksy (Aidan Brooks) were good. Baxy (Anthony Bax) and (Naaman) Hofer, I thought they controlled the game and really limited the opportunities,” he said. “I think they had five shots in about 35 minutes between the last five minutes of the first and five minutes left in the third. So I’m very happy with the effort.”

Even after falling behind 2-0 after the first period, the Kings still worked hard and created some opportunities and were rewarded for their efforts.

The veterans are starting to step up their play, especially on the blueline.

“I think it’s just a matter of getting into it. We’ve just got to get a little more urgency, a little bit more compete and using our speed the way they can,” Hedley said.

After skating over the weekend, Hedley hopes to cut down to about 28 players for the final two preseason games, Friday at home against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melville Millionaires, and Saturday in Virden against the Oil Capitals.

Defenceman Ryan Gower has been reassigned to the Kings from the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders and will skate with the team this week.

Hedley said the two remaining preseason games will be a good test for those still trying to make the cut.

“The one thing that we really have to get back to from a couple years ago, and I really shouldn’t say we didn’t last year, but I think the consistency needs to be there with the compete and hard work. They’re both choices,” he said. “The skill you have to work at, but they’re individual choices on how hard you work, how hard you compete, how many stick battles you win. It’s all an amount of effort and decision to work hard. The exhibition season has shown that our vets have come back with a purpose and they’re working hard and it’s contagious. Our young guys are working hard and, you combine that with some skill that we have, it’s going to be an exciting year.”

Nearly 50 motorcyclists took part in the sixth annual Memorial Ride in late August 2023 and through their support, helped contribute towards identified needs at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC).

This year, the Memorial Ride, spearheaded by Tony’s Auto Electric and JDS Laundromat in Dauphin, made its way through Parkland communities along Highway 5 and Mountain Road and reached its final destination in Erickson.

The 300-kilometre return trip raised a total of $2,200 that was donated to the health centre, through the Dauphin Hospital Foundation.

The Memorial Ride is held in loving memory of those lost over the past year. It aims to bring people together in celebrating and recognizing the lives of those lost and it does not matter if people rode a motorcycle or just purchased tickets. The goal was to enjoy the day, visit with people, share memories and contribute to a worthy cause.

Organizers were very pleased with the support of communities and individuals along the way. The Dauphin Hospital Foundation and Dauphin Regional Health Centre sincerely thank the organizers, participants and all who contributed to this worthy cause.

The writ has officially dropped to send Manitobans to the polls.

Premier Heather Stefanson visited Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville, last Tuesday to kick off Manitoba’s 43rd provincial general election with polling day set for, Oct. 3.

As of press time there are two registered candidates in the Dauphin electoral district. Gord Wood is looking to retain the seat for the Progressive Conservative Party, while Ron Kostyshyn is hoping to win the constituency back for the New Democratic Party.

Advance voting runs for eight days, from Sept. 23 to 30.

To be eligible to vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day and have lived in the district for at least six months immediately before election day.

Voters will receive a voter information card in the mail. This card confirms you are registered to vote and when and where to vote on election day and the advance voting period.

Voters who have not received their cards or received a card with incorrect information can visit www.electionsmanitoba.ca or contact their local election office to register or update their information before Sept. 14. Voting is faster and easier when registered before the election, but you can still register at the poll when you vote.

During all eight days of advance voting, Manitobans can vote at any advance poll in the province.

Advance polling in the Dauphin constituency at the Local Election Office in Dauphin at 1550 Main St S, and at Dauphin Market Place Mall at 1450 Main Street South every day throughout the advance voting period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the exception of Sunday, Sept. 24, when voting can take place from noon to 6 p.m.

Advance voting will also be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 27 only at:
• Winnipegosis Elks Lodge at 337 3rd St., Winnipegosis.
• Waterhen Council Office at 104 North Mallard Rd., Waterhen.
• Rorketon Community Hall at 800 1st St. S., Rorketon.
• Sifton Community Centre at 115 2nd Ave., Sifton.
• Richardson Pioneer Community Hall at 201 Main St. N, Gilbert Plains.
• Grandview Kinsmen Hall at 435 Burrows St., Grandview.
• Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation Band Hall on Hwy. 5, Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation.
• Ste. Rose du Lac Curling Club at 555 Maillard St., Ste. Rose du Lac.
• Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex at 517 Arena Ave., Ebb and Flow.
• Royal Canadian Legion McCreary Branch at 431 1st. Ave., McCreary.
• Alonsa Community Centre at 10 PTH 50, Alonsa.
On election day, you can vote at any polling place in your electoral division.
In the Dauphin constituency that includes:
• Winnipegosis Elks Lodge at 337 3rd St., Winnipegosis.
• Skownan Hall at 1050 Skownan Rd., Skownan.
• Waterhen Council Office at 104 North Mallard Rd., Waterhen.
• Maurice Morrisseau Memorial Hall at 3207 Lakeshore Rd., Crane River.
• Rorketon Community Hall at 800 1st St. S., Rorketon.
• Fork River Community Hall at 105 1st Ave. W, Fork River.
• Sifton Community Centre, Sifton.
• Richardson Pioneer Community Hall at 201 Main St. N, Gilbert Plains.
• Grandview Kinsmen Hall at 435 Burrows St., Grandview.
• Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation Band Hall on Hwy. 5, Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Nation.
• Valley River Community Centre at 5 Hassard St., Valley River.
• Dauphin Friendship Centre at 210 1st Ave. NE., Dauphin.
• Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium at 304 Whitemore Ave. E., Dauphin.
• Happy Haven Home at 116 Whitemore Ave. W., Dauphin.
• Ochre River Community Hall at 401 Mann St., Ochre River.
• Ste. Rose du Lac Curling Club at 555 Maillard St., Ste. Rose du Lac.
• Westlake Community Centre at 16 Eddystone Dr., Eddystone.
• Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex at 517 Arena Ave., Ebb and Flow.
• Kinosota Community Centre on Kinosota Front Rd., Kinosota.
• Les Nouveaux Horizons Centre at 112 Fosbery St., Laurier.
• Royal Canadian Legion McCreary Branch at 431 1st. Ave., McCreary.
• Alonsa Community Centre at 10 PTH 50, Alonsa.
• Amaranth Memorial Hall at 12 PTH 50, Amaranth.

All polls will be open from 8 a.m. on election day.

All voters require ID to vote, either one piece of government-issued photo ID or two other pieces. There are many options. A complete list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections Manitoba website.

Voters are encouraged to bring their voter information card, which can be used as one piece of ID.

This election will see new technology at the polls, resulting in reduced wait times for voters and faster results reporting. This new technology includes:

• Laptops with secure access to the voters list;
• Scanners to scan voter information cards and quickly find voters on the voters list;
• Printers for printing ballots on demand in place of write-in ballots for advance voting; and
• Vote counting machines to scan and accurately record ballots and provide results at the close of polls.

It is expected that approximately 85 per cent of election day voters and 95 per cent of advance voters will see these tools in use in the 2023 general election.

MS Bike Riding Mountain made its triumphant post-COVID return this past weekend, but with a twist.

Rather than beginning in Dauphin and proceeding to Clear Lake on day one with a return to Dauphin on day two, the event involved a looped course beginning and ending at Elkhorn Ranch in Riding Mountain National Park.

What did not change, however, is the scenic views and diverse sightings of wildlife that come with a trip through RMNP.

Riders were able to choose from two loops, with a 71-kilometre option featuring a turn around at Moon Lake or a 109-kilometre round trip with a turn around at Northgate Trails.

Whichever ride they chose, riders celebrated their accomplishments with awards, food and fun. This year, the Riding Mountain event had a fund-raising goal of $85,000 with over $53,514 raised to date. MS Bike Riding Mountain is one of 12 MS Bike events happening over a four-month period across Canada with the goal of raising funds to support people living with multiple sclerosis.

On the morning of Sept. 2, Don Kobluk, an elder at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lennard, noticed that the front door of his church was askew and the handle had been torn off.

He went inside and found the entire sanctuary covered in fine dust from a fire extinguisher.

More in this week’s issue.

The new school year is shaping up to be a good one at Roblin Elementary School and Goose Lake High.

With Covid in the rear view mirror – not quite a distant memory yet – and school life returning to pre-Covid normals, there is a real sense of excitement among students and staff.

Read all about it in this week’s Review.

In the next couple of months, some very prominent music award ceremonies are going to be taking place and a local Roblin artist is breaking his own personal record by being nominated for six awards from two different music award ceremonies.

Ryan Keown is nominated for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year at the 2023 Manitoba Country Music Awards (MCMAs) for his song A Lie I Can Live With. He is also nominated for four awards as Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Video Performance and Modern Song of the Year at the ninth annual Josie Music Awards in Nashville.

Find out more in this week’s paper.

In the afternoon of Aug. 25, Roblin RCMP received a report of theft of bike from a backyard. Two bikes were locked with a rope lock and were stolen.

One was later located being ridden. Person on the bike was arrested for possession of stolen property and charges are pending. Bike was returned to owner.

See what’s kept police busy over the last two weeks in the RCMP Report.

The Pas is leaping into the future and has progressively established installing an EV charger in the community. The EV charger isn’t open for business quite yet, but will be very soon.
“The actual unit arrived during the week of the August 14, and work started then as well,” said Jackie Rechenmacher.
“We still have a couple things to figure out, but once we get it up and running, then the most common thing is to have the users pay a rate for how much power they use. The municipality is looking into other models as well, more to come on that. We will be connecting and testing the unit in the coming weeks.”

The Swan River Centennial Arena saw more action this past weekend (Sept. 1-2), as the Swan Valley Junior A Stampeders opened their Main Camp, welcoming returning players, prospects and invitees to the rink.