After spending a few special years in St. Malo, Patrick Trudeau has accepted an assistant coach position with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
"It's a big step forward," Trudeau says with a smile. "In terms of quality of play, and I'll also have to move up to the town of Dauphin, which I'm excited to join the community. I'm very excited and just counting down the days."
Trudeau was very proud of his time with the Warriors, and says a lot will be making the trip up north with him. "Lots of things just come down to being ready to coach at the next level in terms of already coaching 16 to 20-year-olds, so already having that base down when it comes to what to expect, what they like, also things like how they act, all those things have helped me be ready for the next level. At the same time, I learned lots under Ralph (Collette) and his leadership, so being able to take that into Dauphin, and hopefully continue to learn under Doug Hedley, and the staff there, and hopefully bring another championship to Dauphin."
Having already had a few conversations with his new head coach, Trudeau says he and Headley are building a good foundation of communication already. "We've discussed some things already, the plan is for me to take care of the defense and penalty kill, at this moment. But honestly, things can change, and I am more than willing to take the approach that we are all in as a team, and to take on additional responsibilities or to have him help out and make it a team affair."
The Dauphin Kings have a rich and storied history in the MJHL, something that Trudeau is aware of, and looking to be a part of another strong run as the Kings are poised to be contenders again. "Lots of it will come down to this past year, I joined as a scout. Fortunately, I was in the building for that game seven, where unfortunately they suffered a heart breaking defeat, but to see that they came so close, it's super exciting to join and help win that final game of the year. It's looking like we'll have a strong team again this year, and continue with that winning tradition."
A key part that Trudeau learned from his time in St. Malo, was connecting team to community, something he plans to do with the Kings. "I think that lots of it will come down to the experience I had in St. Malo. They had many local players, and within fifty or sixty kilometers from the area, while in junior A, there might be a lot less locals, but there's still a sense of that hockey town that takes pride in the hockey team and it's players. Having players in the community, bringing some revenue to the town and creating a buzz in near by communities, it's all super important for an organization at the junior level."
It's not just on the ice where Trudeau is looking to help the players, he understands that a role of an MJHL coach is to help these young men get ready for life at the next level or after hockey. "The role is to always promote players to the next level, and ensure they're having fun playing hockey. We don't want to make them get to a point where they want to quit hockey after their junior career, we want them to be able to continue to grow and continue to take that next step in their hockey journey, whether it's in school, professionally, all we're trying to do is get into that development path, and continue to build them as hockey players and good people. Being good citizens and that next wave of community leaders is very important."
As Trudeau sets to embark on a new challenge in a new place, he can't help but leave a part of his heart in St. Malo, which he is more than fine with. "Lots of gratefulness," he says beaming. "It was a town that didn't really know me, and they took me in. After an eight win season, we were able to change that franchise and that season around, going to three straight finals, while winning two. Those were some of the best times I've ever had. The friendship I've made with Ralph Collette is invaluable, and hopefully it continues despite my leaving. His 31 years is truly special. The community had been great, the board members have been awesome, they've been really supportive, especially in the last two years after I let it be known my intentions to move up. It was going to take the right opportunity, to do so, and they were very supportive, patient and let me go through my process. It's lots of gratefulness, I'm thankful they were able to support me and give me the opportunity to keep learning as a coach, and as a person. Learning from Ralph, seeing how he treats people, treats the organization, and has the respect of the town, it was really inspiring and I'll forever take that."
The Dauphin Kings will make their first visit to Steinbach's Southeast Event Centre on November 1st, a date Patrick Trudeau will have circled.