Pistons set for season opener

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This article was published 20/09/2017 (2406 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quietly going about their business during the last three weeks of training camp, the Steinbach Pistons are finally set to drop the puck on the 2017-18 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season.

There were countless scrimmages and workouts, team-building events and five exhibition games along the way, but now it’s time to get things going in earnest, a meaningful game if you will.

The regular season kicks off Friday in Steinbach, with the Pistons hosting the Selkirk Steelers at 7:30 p.m. at the T.G. Smith Centre.

Prior to the game outside the arena, beginning at 6:00 p.m., there will be pre-game entertainment and a barbecue, in support of Southeast Helping Hands. Fans are asked to bring a Tin for the Bin.

As we embark on a new season, looking ahead to this new campaign, one can be fairly certain the Pistons will again be one of the top teams in the MJHL this season, as they have been for the past several years and in fact have evolved into the premier franchise in the league.

Last season, the Pistons were far away the best team in the regular season as they led from the outset and set team records for wins and points.

But they faltered in the playoffs, eclipsed by the Portage Terriers, who were full marks for beating the Pistons in the semis enroute to their third straight MJHL title.

So where do the Pistons go from here, after that record-setting regular season campaign on the way to winning the MJHL pennant, only to see it fizzle in the post-season.

For one, head coach Paul Dyck said this week, “we are not dwelling on last season, we are not talking about last year, we are focusing on this year.” But that being said, Dyck added, “we were very successful in the regular season last year, we hope to do that again, it guarantees more home dates in the playoffs.”

For now, the Pistons are allowed to carry 25 players on their roster. This year’s team includes 12 returning players, which is a normal turnover from year-to-year. Those returnees include goaltender Matt Radomsky, and defencemen Darby Gula, Mark Taraschuk and Declan Graham. Back for another year at forward are Drew Anderson, Jack Johnson, Bradley Schoonbaert, Vaughn Dupre, Will Koop, Braden Purtill and Danny Pion.

The opening day roster has five 20-year-olds and six Americans. This year’s team also has several all-important local players including defenceman Darby Gula and Jack Lenchyshyn from Steinbach, along with forwards Will Cruise from Steinbach and Vaughn Dupre from Ste Anne.

In addition, 17-year-old goaltender Matthew Thiessen hails from Altona, but is almost a local boy as both his parents grew up in Steinbach and still have strong connections to the community. It is not unlike Corey Koop, the best goaltender to ever strap on the pads for the Pistons. Koop grew up in Squamish, B.C., but both his parents also grew up in Steinbach so it was a homecoming of sorts for Koop when he arrived in the Automobile City and unceremoniously carried the Pistons to their one and only league championship.

Those were heady days back then, when the Pistons unexpectedly won the MJHL crown in the 2012-13 season, and have been in the mix every year since, but haven’t been able to duplicate that championship season. Standing in the way has been that juggernaut called the Portage Terriers. Perhaps this is the year.

One big hole the Pistons have to fill this year is the loss of scoring machine Mackenzie Graham, traded in the off-season to the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, closer to his hometown of Toronto.

The speedy Graham, who spent two years with the Pistons, was third in the MJHL scoring race last season with 79 points in 57 games, including 32 goals.

In return, the Piston received forward Drew Worrad, who has had an instant impact with the Pistons. “Drew has been very impressive,” said Dyck, “he had eight points in the pre-season, he has fit in very quickly, he is of high character and comes with leadership.”

There were some that felt the Pistons were outmuscled by the Terriers in the playoffs last year and on that note Dyck said, “we are a little bigger this year, we will play a heavier game, bring some edge.”

“We also have a lot of depth out front this year with four solid lines and our defence has mobility.” As for the goaltenders, just 18- and 17-years-old, Dyck said, “we have complete confidence in their abilities.”

The Pistons played five pre-season games, compiling a 4-1 record along the way, including a 5-0 victory over the Selkirk Steelers last Saturday in Steinbach. Their only loss came Friday at Selkirk as the Steelers were 4-2 winners.

The Pistons and the Steelers will no doubt be tired of each other by the end of this weekend. Not only do they face each other in the season opener on Friday, after clashing in three pre-season games, they will also have a return match-up this Saturday in Selkirk in another 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

“We are excited to start at home,” said Dyck, last year’s MJHL Coach of the Year, “everybody is anxious to get this season underway.”