Dauphin parting ways with MJHL head coach

Doug Hedley will no longer lead the Dauphin Kings in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

The team announced April 15 Hedley and the organization, “have mutually agreed to part ways.”

Hedley joined Dauphin at the beginning of the 2018/2019 season for his latest stint for the Kings, moving from the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. Hedley, who is from Dauphin, has been the head coach for the Kings on three separate occasions across 15 total seasons.

“As the team looks to move in a different direction, the organization extends its sincere appreciation to Doug for his dedication and commitment to the program,” a Kings social medial post reads.

“His lasting impact on both the players and the organization will be remembered.”

Hedley won the Turnbull Cup with the Kings in 2022, defeating the Pistons in a memorable game seven in Steinbach. Over the past seven seasons he racked up nearly 250 wins.

Hedley had been suspended by the league each season over the last three years for a total of 21 games, including eight games in January of 2025 by Hockey Manitoba’s maltreatment committee.

The Kings have already listed a job posting for a coach/general manager position.

Dauphin won’t be the only franchise looking for a new head coach, with the Winnipeg Blues and Josh Gratton parting ways.

“I appreciate the opportunity I was granted by the Blues organization, and am forever grateful on my time with Winnipeg,” Gratton said in a Blues Facebook post.

The Blues played three games in Stonewall to end the year, including their final game of the season, after moving from the Hockey for All Centre to the Rink Training Centre this year. They finished with 18 wins and a minus-110 goal difference.