Pistons double up highway rivals in MJHL opening weekend

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This article was published 24/09/2022 (1030 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The dignitaries were ready, the fans were packed into their seats and the players were warmed up but the one thing missing from the Niverville Nighthawks inaugural home opener was an ice surface to play on.

Niverville’s first home Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) game was delayed after the Niverville Community Resource and Rec Centre (CRRC) Zamboni was temporarily knocked out of commission.

The Zamboni wasn’t the only thing not quite ready for the MJHL, as the Nighthawks opened their season with consecutive losses to their highway rivals, losing 6-4 in Steinbach Sept. 16, then dropping their home opener 4-1 Sept. 17.

Niverville’s attempts to steal a game from Steinbach and ruin their home opener were undone by a disastrous minute long stretch in the second period. Down 1-0 after Ian Amsbaugh opened the scoring in the first period, Steinbach rattled off three goals in 1:02, with Amsbaugh, Ty Paisley and Nicholas Mikan stretching the Steinbach lead to 4-0 mid-way through the frame.

The Nighthawks, who looked fiesty all weekend despite the results on the scoreboard, didn’t go down without a fight, as Bredan Bottem scored the first goal in Nighthawks history after a missed point shot to respond and Carter Spirig added another before the second period ended.

The teams exchanged four goals in the third period, as Cole Plowman making a spectacular cross-crease glove save in the waning moments to keep Steinbach’s lead at two goals.

The next day in Niverville provided the opening ceremonies for the Nighthawks, as hundreds of fans packed into the CRRC to get their first glimpse of MJHL hockey.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, MP Ted Falk, MLA Ron Schuler, Niverville mayor Byron Dyck and MJHL commissioner Kevin Saurette joined club president Clarence Braun on the ice for the ceremonial opening face-off.

“This is no longer the Niverville I grew up in,” Braun told the fans during his pre-game address, noting that Niverville has drastically grown over the past two decades.

“We are better for having you here. Our hearts will expand to become more inclusive.”

Braun also thanked the Steinbach Pistons board of directors for giving them a peak behind the scenes at how to run a successful MJHL non-profit franchise.

“And that’s the last nice thing I’ll say about Steinbach,” Braun quipped after his compliment.

Steinbach wasted no time attempting to silence the raucous crowd, with Davis Fry opening the scoring. The line of Fry, Paisley and Travis Hensrud were lethal offensively all weekend, with Steinbach native Paisley earning MJHL star of the week honours with a goal and two assists over two games.

With five seconds to go in the first period, the fans got what they came for, when a Carson Reed shot on the powerplay ricocheted past Coleman to send the crowd into a frenzy, knotting the game at one heading into the first intermission.

From there, Niverville starter Mason Fine put on a goaltending clinic, as Steinbach pressed to take a commanding lead. After Hensrud beat Fine to give the Pistons a 2-1 lead, the Nighthawks goalie was brilliant, keeping the Nighthawks in contention. With the score still 2-1, the shots on goal were 41-18 for the visitors.

Finally the dam broke with a Leo Chambers powerplay marker just after the half-way mark of the third period to give Steinbach a convincing lead. The Pistons would add an empty netter to clinch the game.

For more photos from the games, check out this week’s edition of The Carillon.