La Broquerie’s Cote makes Pistons debut

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This article was published 14/12/2023 (565 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s hard to describe just how good a week La Broquerie’s Eric Cote has had.

The 2006-born defenseman represented the Eastman Selects at the Manitoba U18 AAA showcase event, then a week later made his Steinbach Pistons debut inside the HyLife Centre in La Broquerie.

Cote made the most of his action for the Pistons, notching an assist for his first career Manitoba Junior Hockey League point.

“It’s a lot of hockey, it’s been fun though,” Cote said after Steinbach’s 6-1 victory over Portage Dec. 8.

Cote got the call up due to a rash of injuries on the Pistons’ back end. Jack Cook, who had gotten off to a great start for the team, leading one of the best blue-line groups in the league is out long-term.

Chad and David Cote, who are from Quebec and not related to Eric, are also out for Steinbach. Another defender, Shane Burns, was on the scratch list as well Dec. 8. Burns is from California, and has seen action in four games so far this season.

There isn’t much relief up front for Steinbach, with Sam Noad, Wyatt Mattfield and Hunter Degelman also not seeing action against Portage.

Eric noted the initial pace of junior A hockey took him by surprise, but he quickly was able to adapt.

“It was fun, because I knew a lot of people were here watching me,” Cote said.

“I was really nervous to start, but then I got the hang of it. Every shift got better and better.”

That crowd made their voices heard after Cote’s assist. It wasn’t the prettiest point, as Cote cleared a puck off the glass from his own zone, before Kyle Kudrna picked up the play and potted home a goal to give the Pistons a 3-0 first peri0d lead.

After Eric’s name was announced, the crowd gave the hometown player a nice ovation in recognition.

Eric is looking to join a quality list of Pistons players from La Broquerie who have made their mark with the franchise, including brothers Colin and Justin Beaudry, who were key contributors for Steinbach during their first Turnbull Cup run in 2013.

While Eric couldn’t re-join his teammates in Eastman for the rest of the weekend, as his services were still needed by Steinbach in Neepawa Dec. 12, he’s hoping the Selects can pick up the pace heading into the new year.

Eastman is sitting eighth in the U18 AAA standings, with a 10-12 record as of Dec. 12.

“I think we’re going to pick it up soon and start getting some wins,” Eric said.

Eric was joined at the U18 showcase event by teammates Calyb Moore, Jeremiah Warkentine Mario Gagnon, Kasen Mateychuk and Nathan Forster.