Kings, Blizzard set to go the distance

It’s not a stretch to say the Dauphin Kings and Northern Manitoba Blizzard are evenly matched.

Last year, both teams met in the first round of the MJHL playoffs. The series went seven games, featuring 11 overtime periods — including a five-overtime period battle in game six.

Northern Manitoba eventually won the series with an overall goal differential of plus-two.

This year they meet again, with the Turnbull Cup championship on the line.

“We’re expecting to be dug in for a long series,” said Doug Hedley, Dauphin’s head coach and general manager. “Stars have to line up and things have to go well.”

The MGEU East Division foes split the six-game regular season series, separated by one goal favouring Dauphin.

Hedley said fundamentals and attitude are pivotal in matchups like this.

“It’s going to come down to little things,” said Hedley. “Rebounding from mistakes and how you push back at certain times of the game.”

Both teams are relatively young. The Kings have only four 20-year-old skaters, while the Blizzard have 15 skaters born after 2005.

“We consider ourselves to be a younger group that has some very good 18 and 19-year-olds,” said Hedley.

Eric Labrosse, Northern Manitoba’s head coach and general manager, said the Blizzard’s two previous playoff opponents, Neepawa and Winkler, were both more veteran teams.

That didn’t trouble the Blizzard, who beat Neepawa in five before sweeping the defending champion Flyers.

Labrosse said he’s not concerned about his younger players stepping up when stakes are high.

“It was always important to include all my younger guys in getting playing time,” said Labrosse. “When this time of the season comes around, you want them to be comfortable in every situation.”

Among those younger players is 18-year-old goaltender Taye Timmerman, whose 1.79 goals-against average leads all goaltenders this post-season.

“When I spoke about character… (Timmerman) is exactly that,” said Labrosse.

Last season, Timmerman was cut from the Bruins U18 AAA team. He joined the Winnipeg Thrashers and later beat that same Bruins team in the playoffs, winning Goaltender of the Year.

When 19-year-old Blizzard goaltender Alex Reedy got injured at the beginning of this season, Timmerman had to step up. He continued to exceed coach Labrosse’s expectations throughout the year — earning him the starting job.

“That’s exactly what Taye brought to this team this year — a lot of character, a lot of determination,” said Labrosse.

Timmerman said the adversity helps him thrive in his new role.

“It really all led up to this moment,” said Timmerman. “It would mean everything to win it.”

Through 19 meetings in the past two seasons, both teams share an admiration and respect for each other.

Labrosse said he isn’t preparing against individual players, but a well-balanced Dauphin team.

“You can’t be caught sleeping defensively on these guys,” said Labrosse. “They can make you pay real quick in the D-zone with their offence… we’ll have to be alert.”

It’s hard to imagine this series going as long as last year’s first-round matchup. Still, neither side is taking their opponent for granted.

“I expect it to be just as hard this year,” said Labrosse. “It’s going to be a tough matchup, and we’re ready to take it on.”

Game 1 of the Turnbull Cup finals is set for Friday at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.