The Arborg Ice Dawgs are set to hit the ice for the 2025-26 Capital Region Junior Hockey League season, with a new-look lineup and fresh leadership behind the bench.
Arborg opens the campaign Sunday in Selkirk, the first of 30 regular-season games. Fifteen will be played at the Arborg & District Arena.
The Ice Dawgs are aiming to rebound after back-to-back sub-.500 seasons. Their roster features several rookies following the graduation of 2003-born veterans Ben Danielson, Tyson Barylski, Michael Crave and Harris Dankochik.
There’s also a coaching change. Former assistant Jack Einarson moves up to head coach, replacing Derric Gulay.
Einarson, 25, is no stranger to the club. He suited up for the Ice Dawgs in 2016-17 and again in 2021-22, when he lit up the league with 99 points to lead the CRJHL in scoring. The Gimli product also logged more than 200 games of Manitoba Junior Hockey League action with the Virden Oil Capitals.
Joining him on the bench is Barylski, who captained the Ice Dawgs last season and finished second in team scoring with 31 points. The 22-year-old Arborg native played his entire junior career with the club, dressing in 112 games over six seasons.
The Ice Dawgs will skate this season against the St. Malo Warriors, Beausejour Comets, Lundar Falcons, La Broquerie Habs, Selkirk Fishermen and North Winnipeg Satellites in the seven-team CRJHL
All clubs tuned up with exhibition games last weekend. On Friday, Arborg hosted Beausejour in their temporary home at Gimli Arena. The Comets lit the lamp early, added to the lead in the second and skated away with a 5-1 win.
The Ice Dawgs hit the road Saturday to face the Falcons in Lundar. Trailing 3-2 in the third, Arborg buried the tying goal to force overtime. The Falcons, however, sealed it with the OT winner in a 4-3 final.
The Ice Dawgs will squeeze in one final fall camp skate Tuesday before their season opener Sunday in Selkirk. The puck drops at 3 p.m. at Selkirk Recreation Complex.
Arborg will then return for its home opener Friday, Oct. 3, against St. Malo. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. at Arborg & District Arena.
