Former Pistons Amsbaugh, Birnie take pro steps
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A pair of former Steinbach Pistons have moved up in the professional hockey ranks.
Braden Birnie, who joined the Pistons for their run to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals in 2022 via a mid-season trade, signed a professional try-out contract with the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.
After completing four years at the NCAA’s University of Alaska-Fairbanks this season, he turned pro, joining the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL, where he made an immediate impact.
His six points in nine games was enough to impress the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, which signed him to a try-out April 1.
The best span of Birnie’s junior career came in Steinbach, as he posted 31 points in just 24 games, adding on an impressive 25 points across 18 playoff games. The Weyburn product joined Steinbach after spending four seasons with his hometown club.
North Dakota’s Ian Amsbaugh joined the Pistons a year after Birnie left, and had more luck in the finals, helping the Pistons to a MJHL championship in 2023. He was one of the team’s top performers at that year’s Centennial Cup, nabbing five points in four games.
Amsbaugh joined the professional ranks last week, signing a deal with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers.
He scored 58 points in 58 regular season games, leaving after a single season in Canada to join Adrian College in the NCAA’s third division.
Amsbaugh has already scored his first professional goal, nabbing what turned out to be the game-winner in the first period of Tulsa’s 5-1 win over Rapid City April 3.