Kings, Pistons ready for Game 7 in Steinbach

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This article was published 11/05/2022 (1367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DAUPHIN — Although he didn’t suit up in the deciding game of the 2019 Turnbull Cup, Logan Calder knows what it takes to win a Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship.

Calder played in 12 playoff games and recorded a pair of assists for his hometown Portage Terriers in their run to a league title three years, which concluded in a Game 7 overtime winning goal by Reece Henry in their 3-2 triumph over the Swan Valley Stampeders on April 22, 2019.

The 21-year-old forward now has a chance to do that again at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Steinbach, as his Dauphin Kings visit the Pistons in the deciding game of the 2022 league final.

“This series has really felt pretty similar to that one,” said Calder, who suited up in four games against the Stampeders in 2019. “These are both well-built teams like Portage and Swan Valley were and this has been some really good playoff hockey.

“I think everyone’s excited to see it come down to this one game and I know that I’m going to try and bring the lessons that I learned from the 20-year-old guys on that Terriers team about staying focussed and in the moment to help our younger guys.”

While there aren’t many players left in the league who were part of the last full MJHL post-season, the Pistons also have someone who had a front-row seat to the 2019 final.

Defenceman Jackson Betcher was a rookie on the Stampeders that season and played in two playoff games against the Pistons — who acquired the 21-year-old Swan River product in January — but was a scratch in the league final.

This year’s Turnbull Cup matchup between the top two teams in the regular season has lived up to expectations, with neither side being able to gain momentum.

After splitting a pair of 5-1 games at the T.G. Smith Centre on April 29 and 30, the Pistons took a 2-1 advantage in the series last Tuesday night when Quinton Pepper scored 55 seconds into overtime to give his team a 5-4 win over the Kings.

Dauphin rebounded in impressive fashion the following evening as they scored three goals in the opening frame on their way to a 5-2 triumph at Credit Union Place.

The Pistons used home ice to their advantage Friday with a 2-0 victory but were unable to clinch the title on the road as the Kings picked up a 2-0 win Sunday.

“We’ve been excited to play in front of our fans and we’ve come into our rink ready to play in these last two games at home,” Calder said.

“We were relentless on the forecheck and all over the ice in Games 4 and 6. We played well throughout the game and we need to bring that energy into their rink for Game 7.”

The best example of the Kings’ style of play has come from the line of Jerriah Shantz, Jayden Harris and Garrett Hrechka, who have given the Pistons fits in their trips to Dauphin.

“They were difference makers in our two wins here and they helped to get our offence going, especially on Sunday,” Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said.

“Even though we won 2-0 and we controlled most of the game, that second goal (which was scored by Calder) didn’t come until three minutes to go. It sort of feels like we need to have 50 to 60 shots just to get a couple of goals right now, but the guys did a great job of stay patient and waiting for their chances.

“Now’s it’s a toss-up going into Steinbach and the odd break here or there is what we need to make count in order to win a championship.”

Meanwhile, Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck is looking to see his team return to play an intelligent brand of hockey, which he thinks will be a determining factor in a winner-take-all affair.

“We need to do a better job of taking care of the puck,” Dyck said. “We were really sloppy with it on Sunday, which led to us turning the puck over in the opposite end.

“We also gave up some three-on-one and three-on-two rushes to them as a result of bad line changes and undisciplined play. We’re going to have to play with some energy but this is also going to come down to who plays smarter on this stage between two really good teams.”

One thing that does play in the Pistons favour is that they will have home ice advantage for tonight’s contest.

In the last six league finals that went to a Game 7, the hosts came away with the victory and hoisted the Turnbull Cup in front of their fans.

The Terriers accomplished that feat in 2019, as did the St. James Canadiens (1996), Selkirk Steelers (1987), Kildonan North Stars (1978) and the Steelers (1975).

“It helps that we have home ice but that doesn’t make it a given that we will win the game just because it’s in our rink,” Dyck said.

“We’re going to have to earn the win … but if we had the choice of where we would like to have a Game 7, we’d always prefer to have it in Steinbach.”

A win this evening would give the Pistons their third MJHL title and their first since 2018.

Meanwhile, a Kings triumph would hand them the Turnbull Cup — which they last won in 2010 – for the eighth time.

Also up for grabs is a spot at the Centennial Cup, which will be held in Estevan, Sask. from May 19 to 29.

The MJHL champions will be placed in a pool that will include the Central Canadian Hockey League champion Ottawa Jr. Senators, the Maritime Hockey League champion Summerside Western Capitals, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League runner-up Flin Flon Bombers and the yet to be determined champion of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The other pool will feature the tournament host and SJHL champion Estevan Bruins, the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Brooks Bandits, the Quebec Junior Hockey League champion Longueuil College Francais, the Superior International Junior Hockey League champion Red Lake Miners and the yet to be determined champion of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

ICINGS: Zach Power of the Pistons has led all skaters on offence in the final with seven assists. Quinton Pepper has potted five goals for Steinbach, while Braden Birnie and Zac Patrick have each recorded five points … Dauphin’s offence has been paced by Calder, who also has five points, with Mathew Rathbone, Klim Georgiev and Brayden Dube posting four points each … Carson Cherepak has played every minute in between the pipes for Dauphin in the series and has recorded 2.34 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage … Meanwhile, the Pistons have split their netminding duties. Simon Harkness got the call in the first four games and had a 3.32 gaa and a .907 save percentage before he was pulled after the opening frame in Game 4. Future Western Michigan Bronco Will Hambley has taken over since then and has posted a dazzling 1.51 gaa and a .962 save percentage.

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