Pistons playing at University of Manitoba this weekend

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This article was published 30/11/2023 (599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Steinbach Pistons are hoping a change in venue won’t lead to a change in results.

The team is set to take on the Dauphin Kings inside the Wayne Fleming Arena on the campus of the University of Manitoba Dec. 2, in a game the team is calling the “clash of the champions.”

The previous two Manitoba Junior Hockey League winners will be facing off in Winnipeg, after a scheduling conflict forced the Pistons away from their temporary home in La Broquerie.

Steinbach Pistons sales and marketing director Jamie Roy said the league’s schedule was set in Spring, but didn’t account for La Broquerie’s Habs Day taking place this weekend.

With the arena tied up, and Dauphin making the trip from the western side of the province, Roy said it was an easy choice to move the location of the game instead of trying to reschedule.

“We’re celebrating minor hockey,” he said.

“We’ve invited teams from here all the way to Winnipeg, including Winnipeg. We’ve got about a dozen minor hockey teams signed up that have bought tickets, and we’ve invited the players to come for free.”

Anyone who has season tickets, or an individual ticket to the game, is being asked to bring it to the Max Bell Centre to get into the building. The game will have rush seating, with fans arriving early able to pick out their preferred seats. Tickets are for sale on the Pistons’ website.

The Wayne Fleming Arena received upgrades due to the Western Hockey League’s Winnipeg Ice calling the rink home until last year, when they relocated from the city, including a large video board.

“It’s going to be fun, we’re hoping for a nice, big loud environment and to put on a show for fans,” Roy said.

“It’s fun to play a top team from the other division, who we don’t get to see as often as our counterparts from this side.”

A match-up between the two teams Nov. 24 in La Broquerie provided plenty of entertainment, as Steinbach pulled away late for a 5-1 victory, which was much closer than the final score indicated.

The clash of the champions isn’t the only special event on Steinbach’s schedule in December. The team is hoping to be able to host their own La Broquerie Habs night Dec. 13, when they host Niverville. Roy said the exact date for the event will come down to if they can get their specialty jerseys in time.

“We’ve kept it a little under wraps, just because getting a supply of jerseys is a little tricky these days,” Roy said.

“That jersey is for this community. It’s commemorating our time here, it’s them welcoming us into this building… They love their Habs here, and we appreciate them opening up their home to us.”

The game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.

After a couple of games early in the season with under 500 people in attendance, fans have been more consistent as they get used to travelling to the HyLife Centre for games.

All three home games in November had over 500 people in the stands.

“We can still fit a few more in here for sure,” Roy said, noting the team is already planning their playoff ticket strategy.

“There’s room for us to grow the attendance a little bit, maybe get more of a local community crowd in here. We’re probably guilty of not doing a good enough job of really connecting with the local Habs community.”

The team’s annual Fire and Ice Banquet is also set, with the event taking place Feb. 1 at the Niverville Heritage Centre. After the banquet, the team will be celebrating parent’s weekend, with players’ families travelling from across the country to check out a Steinbach game.