North Okanagan Knights goalie Austin Seibel is “pretty pumped” to have signed to play for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Dauphin Kings for the 2023-24 season.
He received the offer early from the MJHL organization and took it as a complement and accomplishment. In his first season in the KIJHL with the Knights, Seibel won 16 of 29 games he played in with a 2.95 goals against average and .926 save percentage and two shutouts. He helped the Knights reach the second round, winning four Teck Cup championship games with a 3.91 GAA and a .903 SP. His season also included playing for Team KIJHL in the inaugural B.C. Hockey Conference Prospects Game.
“I improved the most I ever have in a season,” said Seibel. “I really pushed myself and had good coaching and teammates that helped push me too.”
What helped Seibel become a better goalie were his work habits, tracking the puck and learning to stop the puck, instead of relying on his technical skills heavily.
“I was doing whatever I could to stop the puck,” said Seibel, who had started the season in a backup role.
After talking to Seibel about his habits and how he needed to approach practice, Knights Head Coach-GM Liam McOnie witnessed the Coldstream, B.C. product quickly earn the starter’s job.
“He was able to keep it through a consistent level of play that was exceptional,” said McOnie. “He started a number of games for us in a time where we needed very solid goaltending. We were very fortunate that Austin was able to step up and put himself and the team into a good position to succeed.”
Now Seibel simply looks forward to continuing his development path and getting better with the Kings.
