Dauphin Kings tap Kromm to head program

All franchises in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League now have their head coaches in place.

The Dauphin Kings announced they had hired Trail Smoke Eaters assistant Bryan Kromm as their head coach and general manager July 10.

Four teams have swapped leadership this off-season, with Northern Manitoba, the Winnipeg Blues and Winnipeg Monarchs all announcing their hires by early June.

Dauphin had a candidate lined up around that time, but they had to drop out of the hiring process.

Kromm was born in Cincinnati, splitting his minor hockey journey between the Okanagan Hockey Academy and a program in Indiana. He played three seasons of junior A in Canada before joining the University of Jamestown in the NCAA.

After graduation, Kromm spent three seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as an assistant, before joining the Smoke Eaters in the B.C. Hockey League. In addition to his role as a associate coach, he served as Trail’s director of player development and assistant general manager.

Kromm said in a team news release he was excited to join such a historical program.

“I think what excites me the most is being a part of a true hockey town where you are the biggest ticket every weekend,” Kromm said.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of that community, embracing that small town culture, and giving back to a place that cares about their hockey team.”

The Kings parted ways with long-time head coach and Dauphin product Doug Hedley following the end of this season. Hedley had been head coach of the program for 15 years over three different tenures.