Bottom-finishing MJHL franchises sign new coaches

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s two Winnipeg franchises have announced who will be leading their teams into the 2026/2027 season.

The Monarchs, which changed branding from the Freeze last season are moving to Riley Dudar as their head coach and general manager, replacing Zach Franco, who joined the franchise last season.

Dudar played junior across Western Canada junior A leagues, eventually spending five years with the University of Manitoba Bisons, where he immediately signed on as a coach following his playing career. Most recently he was the director of player development for the Brandon Wheat Kings, but his experience includes a stint as the director of player personnel for the Flyers.

“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,” Dudar said in a Monarchs news release.

“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 Monarchs finished last season with just 24 points, only ahead of their Northern Manitoba Blizzard, with a minus-156 goal difference. The Blues, powered by a strong start to the season, managed 40 points, but could only finish in front of their Winnipeg rivals and the Blizzard.

The two Winnipeg franchises have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing at or near the bottom of the standings each year since 2022/2023. The two teams had been playing out of the Hockey for All Centre since last season, when the Blues moved to the Rink Training Centre, where they will continue to play next season.

Josh Gratton had been with the Blues since 2024, but left following the end of this season. He’s replaced as head coach/general manager by Aaron Kaatz.

Kaatz was the head coach of the Interlake Lightning’s U18 AAA program after a long stint with Balmoral Hockey in the elite prep hockey ranks.

“The Blues have a proud tradition, and I’m grateful for the trust the organization has placed in me,” Kaatz said in a team news release.

“Coaching is about helping players reach their potential both on and off the ice, while building a culture of accountability, growth, and success. I’m excited to bring energy, structure, and an honest mindset to this next chapter, and I can’t wait to get to work with the players, staff, and community.”

Gratton is remaining in the league, joining the basement-dwelling Blizzard as he looks to re-build the franchise. A championship win in 2025 was immediately followed by a disastrous season, with many top players on that roster leaving for higher leagues. Their head coach from that season, Eric Labrosse, even left for the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

“The opportunity to lead a program with such a rich history and strong tradition means a great deal to me,” Gratton said in a statement announcing the hiring on the team’s website.

“After speaking with (ownership), it became an easy decision for myself, as our visions aligned on building and developing a program that the players, fans, and community can all be proud of.”

The hirings only leave the Dauphin Kings without a head coach in the MJHL this off-season. The Niverville Nighthawks announced head coach Dwight Hirst and general manager Mike McAulay will be returning to the team following a championship season with a victory at the Centennial Cup May 28.