Big off-season trade bolsters Pistons

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 from last year’s squad that 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. Local product 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.”

Steinbach’s line-up certainly got a boost when they traded for for Rohan Guevarra and Griffin Krone Sept. 9.

Guevarra was on pace for an MVP-season with the Selkirk Steelers when he left the MJHL for B.C. last year. He had 27 points in just 13 games before the move. His brother Jace will also be playing for the Pistons this season.

“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.”

In his rookie season with the Steelers, Guevarra nabbed 55 points in 56 games, 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.

“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,” Dyck said.

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

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 Pistons will open their season with a home-and-home against Winkler, puck dropping on their season Friday at 7 p.m. on the road before hosting the Flyers Saturday in Steinbach for their home opener.

National champs ready to reign

The Niverville Nighthawks are hoping to prove their Turnbull Cup and national championship win from last season wasn’t a fluke.

Despite key departures up front, including the graduation of their entire top line from last season (Hayden Wheddon, Merik Boles, Adam Vigfusson), the team appears ready to compete once again.

The Nighthawks played five exhibition games this year, the most of any team in the East Division, losing just a single time, their final game against the Steinbach Pistons Sept. 12.

“We’re going to be a hard team to play against,” head coach Dwight Hirst said.

“We’ve got some guys here who have stepped up and took the reins… It’s going to be interesting to see how this week shakes out and how we go about our leadership group.”

Hirst said the biggest impact last year’s playoff run should have on this year’s group was teaching the organization how to manage a season.

“It’s a testament to how we have to operate daily, how we do things every day, how we stack days and practices and games,” he said.

“Wash the old and bring in the new and build off things that are positive for us.”

Last season’s results are also sure to paint a target on Niverville’s back and to that end general manager Mike McAulay has been one of the busiest executives in the league this off-season.

He’s scoured other leagues in search of top talent to bolster their championship defence this season.

Those players should give the Nighthawks a great base to work off of, with Hirst outlining the path towards another season at the top of the standings and reaching the team’s potential.

“It’s a matter of the guys understanding how we want to play and how we want to be day-to-day,” he said.

“There’s no days off for us and I think once they get through that resolve of understanding that we don’t take breaks… Nobody cares if you’re tired. That’s the motto for us, if you’re tired, just keep finding a way to push through that tiredness.”

The Nighthawks hosts the Winnipeg Monarchs Friday at 7:30 p.m. to kick off their season.

— Carillon