The Steinbach Pistons are excited to announce that they will be hosting their 11th Fire and Ice Banquet at the Niverville Heritage Centre on Monday, February 10th, 2020.
This year will feature a guest panel that includes Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and former NHL netminder Trevor Kidd.
The event begins at 5:30 pm with cocktails and appetizers in the Heritage Centre’s atrium, followed by dinner in the banquet hall at 6:15 pm.
Hellebuyck is currently in his 5th season with the Jets and is coming off of back-to-back postseason appearances. His breakout campaign came in 2017-18 where he posted a 44-11-9 record with a 2.36 GAA and a .924 SV% while helping Winnipeg reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The 26-year-old was also named an All-Star in 2018 and was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. Currently Hellebuyck is posting career numbers this season as he’s helped lead the Jets to 3rd place in the Central Division with a 13-7-1 record, a 2.23 GAA, a .933 SV%, and 2 shutouts to boot.
Hellebuyck attended his first Pistons game last season during the organization’s Family Day celebrations where he assisted in giving away some gear to local minor hockey goalies from Steinbach and Mitchell.
Kidd, from nearby Dugald, was drafted 11th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1990 NHL Draft, and played goal in the NHL for 12 seasons from 1991-2004 for the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. His best statistical season came in the 1997-98 season for Carolina, as he posted a 2.17 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 3 shutouts.
Kidd sports a decorated junior hockey career which includes two World Junior Hockey Championship gold medals in 1990 and 1991, and a Memorial Cup title with the Spokane Chiefs in 1991. He was named the WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year in 1990, and won a silver medal playing for the Canadian national team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France.
Past speakers of the Fire and Ice Banquet have included Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice, Grey Cup MVP Andrew Harris, Dennis Beyak, and former NHL goalie Clint Malarchuk.
Individual tickets are $150, and a table of 8 is $1,000. Email [email protected] to reserve your seat or table, or buy the tickets during Pistons home games at The Garage.
Thank you to Banville & Jones for being the Wine Sponsor and to HyLife for being the Food Sponsor for this year’s event. The Pistons are still looking for a Title Sponsor for the Fire and Ice Banquet. If you or your business are interested, please contact Lucas Pappel for more information.