Steinbach Pistons’ Green racking up accolades

Christian Green may have to have a special section in his trophy case labelled “November 2024.”

The Steinbach Pistons goaltender picked up multiple awards for his play last month, including league star of the month, Steinbach Pistons star of the month and Canadian Junior Hockey League second star of the month.

Green, a native of Boothwyn Pennsylvania, racked up eight wins in November, while posting a 0.943 save percentage and one shutout.

“It’s been an easy adjustment,” Green said on joining the Pistons, thanking his billet family and billet brother Mathis Laplante for lending support.

“(I’m) just trying to do my job, stop pucks and win as many games as possible.”

Green joined the Pistons from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Okotoks Oilers after projected starter from last season Beck Liden returned to the States.

Green had an outstanding run with the Philadelphia Jr Flyers in the U18 ranks, helping the team to an appearance in the American national championships in 2023 before joining Okotoks.

An early season illness had him looking for a new junior home, and he decided to join Steinbach.

“It’s great to see him get acknowledged the way that he was and deservedly so,” head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after a game Dec. 13.

“He’s been a guy that gives us an opportunity to win every night, he’s very focused in practice and goes into every game so prepared. It’s nice to see when kids do the work and have that level of commitment to improvement, they see that growth and get rewarded for it.”

Green cited his work with Steinbach’s defense core in practice as a big reason he found so much success in November.

“If we’re on the same page, it makes everyone’s job a lot easier,” he said.

“(If) they do their job, then I make save shots I’m supposed to, everything works out.”

Green didn’t have any work to do Dec. 13, as he was sitting on the bench rooting for Zach Burleigh to pick up a shutout of his own against the Winnipeg Blues.

Green said the goalie tandem has been strong between him and Burleigh, with the two goaltenders pushing each other in practice and sharing the art of goaltending.

“It’s been real great to have him as a goalie partner, and seeing him get a shutout tonight is always awesome to see,” Green said.

It’s easy for fans of the Pistons to tell who is in goal on any given night, as Green wears his name on his pads. Okotoks colours are green, and the goaltender has continued to wear that gear throughout this season in Steinbach.

“It does tie in well still with the last name, and it is my favourite colour,” he said with a chuckle.

“It all ends up working out.”

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