The Dauphin Kings 1953-54 Western Canada Intermediate Championship team is being recognized before the Dauphin King's Home Opener next Friday against Swan Valley.
The Dauphin Kings start their season tomorrow on the road, and will return to Credit Union Place in a week's time. Before the puck drop the Kings will recognized some of the organization's history.
Last October the Dauphin Kings 1953-54 team was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, considered one of the strongest intermediate teams in the country in the 1950s.
Jack Hrehirchuk of Dauphin spearheaded their induction campaign and will be in attendance along with Dauphn Mayor Eric Irwin.
Today only four members of that team are still alive: Paul Allard, Del Murray, Johhny Love, and Laddie Hutchison. Allard and Murray will be in attendance for the ceremony.
Murray scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal in a championship game six 6-4 against BC's Trail Smoke Eaters. Today Murray resides in Souris, MB.
Dauphin's Allard missed 11 games in the 53-54 season but still managed to record 29 points. He also won a Western Canadian title with the Kings in 1952.
In total the 53-54 Kings team played in 32 playoffs games in a run that stretched from Ontario to BC, which ended with their second Western Canadian Title in three years.
During the season the Kings added plenty of hardware, capturing the Big Six Intermediate Hockey League's MacKenzie Trophy, eliminating The Pas Huskies, and Selkirk Fishermen to earn the Provincial Intermediate 'A' Playdowns' McDiarmid Shield, defeating the Intermediate 'B' Champion Pierson Bruins in three games to represent Manitoba at the CAHA Western Canada Playdowns, knocked off the Lloydminister Jets in the Manitoba.Saskatchewan final, followed by the Marathon Mercuries in the Western semi-final, and finally the Western Canadian Title and Edmonton Journal Trophy with a Game 6 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
