Pistons sweep Stamps, Kings

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This article was published 24/02/2018 (2245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Continuing on in their relentless push to the finish line, the Steinbach Pistons, who long ago wrapped up first place in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, blew away two more opponents on home ice during the weekend.

Outscoring their opponents 14-5 in the two games, the Pistons skated past the Swan Valley Stampeders by a 7-3 score on Friday and then blasted the Dauphin Kings 7-2 on Saturday.

Friday against Swan Valley, Daniel McKitrick paced the Pistons with a pair of goals while Austin Heidemann, Brady Tatro, Riese Gaber and Easton Bennett added singles. Matthew Thiessen picked up the win in net for the Pistons making 27 saves as the Pistons outshot the Stampeders 53-30.

It was the Will Koop show in the blowout over the Kings Saturday as the Winnipeg product scored four goals, giving him 27 on the season as the Pistons routed the Kings 7-2. Jack Johnson assisted on all four of Koop’s goals.

Brendan Martin, Easton Bennett and Bradley Schoonbaert rounded out the scoring for the Pistons while Riese Gaber picked up three assists on the night.

With only two games to play, the Pistons push record to 46-8-2-2, 17 points ahead of the second place Virden Oil Capitals.

Still to be determined is the MJHL scoring champion. Pistons’ sniper Bradley Schoonbaert, as he has most of the season, leads the scoring race with 89 points, including 36 goals. Dexter Kuczek of the Winnipeg Blues is four points back, but Kuczek has four games remaining and Schoonbaert only two.

The Pistons will host the Portage Terriers Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Steinbach and then will close out the regular season Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Winkler.