Steinbach Pistons roster features massive turnover once again

In what’s becoming a regular occurrence, the Steinbach Pistons have nearly a whole new crop of players set to take the ice for them this season.

Just eight players are returning to the squad from last year, where they finished with the second-highest record in the league.

With such a fresh roster, head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said the Pistons are a “work in progress,” noting this was the first time he’s only had a single-digit number of returnees.

“It takes time,” he said after a team event Sept. 15.

“Some things we do are vastly different than what they’ve experienced with other teams, we have to be patient with that. The onus is on us as a staff to teach.”

Adding to those struggles are early season injuries to some of those returning players. William Picklyk missed most of training camp with an injury, but could be back for game one. Newly minted assistant captain Ryan McDonald picked up an injury in the pre-season. Cullen Ingebritson and Marek Miller were also in the infirmary to start the season.

“It’s too early for those things,” Dyck said with a chuckle.

“You never want to see it as a coach, but you don’t want to see it in the opening weekend.”

With so many new faces set to take to the ice, some of the pre-season focus has been on chemistry-building.

“The first three days, it just seemed like it was introductions, asking ‘what was your name again?’” Dyck said.

“The guys need to get to know each other, and they’ve done a really good job of expediting that process.”

Dyck said the focus from coaching staff has been on encouraging players to be vocal in team meetings and in practices to build up team cohesion.

“That can instill confidence in a player,” he said.

“Speaking in front of their teammates shows leadership. It’s a good group of guys here.”

The Pistons will need to learn on the fly what their strengths and weaknesses are this season.

“I like the character of our group,” Dyck said.

“I don’t know if we have a pure identity right now, but there’s a group of forwards there… that are good 200-foot guys, team first, second effort guys. That’s what I like. They’re going to have some influence on the rest of our players and shaping what we look like.”

The team was happy to find the win column in the final of their four pre-season games Sept. 12 after dropping their first three.

“I loved the progression of our game,” Dyck said.

“Our puck support was better, our puck retrievals were much quicker. We removed most of the complexity out of our game that was getting us in trouble Friday night… We’re all starting at zero now.”

Steinbach will open their season in Winkler Sept. 18 before hosting the Flyers the next night in Steinbach for their home opener. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.