Steinbach Pistons bolster line-up with blockbuster trade

One of the Manitoba Hockey League’s best young talents is coming back to the province, and he’ll be wearing Pistons blue.

Steinbach traded the rights to 2007-born forward Noah Paulsen and future considerations for Rohan Guevarra and Griffin Krone Sept. 9.

Guevarra, who was also born in 2007, was on pace for an MVP-season when he left the MJHL for B.C. last season. He had 27 points in just 13 games before the move.

“He’s one of those players, if you’re an offensive guy, you want to play with,” Steinbach head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said.

“I’m sure his line-mates will have fun this winter.”

In his rookie season with the Steelers, Guevarra nabbed 55 points in 56 seasons, and was even on the ice for the first goal inside the Southeast Event Centre, scored by then-teammate Landon Jamieson.

“Rohan’s a tremendous player in our league and going to be an exciting player for our fans to watch and be very productive for us,” Dyck said.

Rohan’s brother Jace is also set to play for the Pistons this season with the chance to play meaningful minutes with family too much of an opportunity for the brothers to pass up.

“It’s obviously a once in a lifetime opportunity potentially for two brothers to play together at this level,” Dyck said.

“That was very important to both the boys and their parents. We’re thankful we could do that.”

Krone, who is from Minnesota scored a point in both of the pre-season games he played with Steinbach.

“Griffin brings something a little different to the table, he’s in the mould of a (Ryan) McDonald or a (Cole) Cairns,” Dyck said.

“There’s a hardness to his game. There’s a simplicity to it. (He’s) a real reliable player who is going to be very effective for us.”

In exchange, Selkirk is getting a standout in the Keystone International Junior Hockey League. Paulsen finished last season with 62 points in 43 games for the Kamloops Storm.