All season long, the Dauphin Kings seemed to be one step behind the Steinbach Pistons.

Steinbach led the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) with 42 wins and 87 points. Dauphin was second with 41 and 83.

Steinbach scored 239 goals, second-most in the MJHL. Dauphin scored 221, good for third.

Steinbach allowed a league-low 122 goals. Dauphin was right behind at 133.

Steinbach had the MJHL’s best penalty kill at 88.6%. Dauphin was at 85.3% … again, second.

The teams met three times in the regular season – Steinbach won twice, Dauphin won once.

But only one team can be the best in Manitoba, can hoist the Turnbull Cup as MJHL champions. This time, it came down to the Pistons and the Kings. And this time, when it mattered most, it was Dauphin that came out on top.

The MJHL final was about as evenly matched a series as one could ask for, with the teams alternating victories through the first six games. Every time the Pistons took a lead – in Games 1, 3 and 5 – the Kings answered.

In the decider, it seemed the series would go the absolute limit, to overtime in Game 7. A shorthanded Dawson Milliken goal for Steinbach midway through the first period was answered by Logan Calder, again shorthanded, early in the second.

Carson Cherepak took over from there, making 27 saves through 40 minutes as the Kings were outshot 28-12, and Brayden Dube scored on an unassisted effort with 8:27 to go to put Dauphin ahead for good and send the Kings to Canada’s National Junior A Championship for the third time.

The Kings are still in search of an elusive first national title despite tremendous performances in its first two appearances; in 2010, on home ice, they topped the preliminary-round standings and reached the championship game, where they fell to the Vernon Vipers. Four years later, when they became the first non-host to ever reach the national tournament without winning league or regional titles, they again were the best in the prelims, but this time suffered an upset loss to the Carleton Place Canadians in the semifinals.

Dauphin opens its Centennial Cup schedule against the Central Canada Hockey League champions, the Ottawa Jr. Senators, on May 20.

HOW THEY GOT TO ESTEVAN

Manitoba Junior Hockey League
Quarterfinal: defeated Swan Valley 4-2 (5-1, 3-2, 6-1, 3-6, 4-5 2OT, 3-2 2OT)
Semifinal: defeated Winkler 4-1 (4-2, 3-1, 4-5, 5-2, 5-1)
MJHL championship: defeated Steinbach 4-3 (1-5, 5-1, 4-5 OT, 5-2, 0-2, 2-0, 2-1)

REGULAR SEASON

Record (W-L-OTL): 42-9-3 (2nd in MJHL)
Goals for: 221 (3rd in MJHL)
Goals against: 133 (2nd in MJHL)
Power play: 49 for 197 (24.9% – 3rd in MJHL)
Penalty killing: 174 of 204 (85.3% – 2nd in MJHL)
Longest winning streak: 8 (Nov. 12-27)
Top 3 scorers:
• Kaden Bryant – 36G 39A 75P (2nd in MJHL)
• Colby Jaquet – 12G 50A 62P (9th in MJHL)
• Logan Calder – 25G 30A 55P (15th in MJHL)

PLAYOFFS

Record: 12-6
Goals for: 64
Goals against: 44
Power play: 18 for 76 (23.7%)
Penalty killing: 51 of 61 (83.6%)
Top 3 scorers:
• Kaden Bryant – 8G 9A 17P
• Colby Jaquet – 4G 12A 16P
• Parker Malchuk – 3G 13A 16P

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

2010 – Dauphin Kings | runners-up | 5-1 | 24GF 23GA
2014 – Dauphin Kings | third place | 3-2 | 15GF 13GA

COMMITMENTS

Colby Jaquet – University of Saskatchewan (2022-23)

CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS

Oct. 4 – not ranked
Oct. 11 – not ranked
Oct. 18 – 14th
Oct. 25 – Honourable Mention
Nov. 1 – 12th
Nov. 8 – 19th
Nov. 15 – 14th
Nov. 22 – 8th
Nov. 29 – 6th
Dec. 6 – 14th
Dec. 13 – 9th
Dec. 20 – 14th
Feb. 7 – 14th
Feb. 14 – 17th
Feb. 21 – 15th
Feb. 28 – 17th
March 7 – 14th
March 14 – 13th
March 21 – 13th