The Steinbach Pistons now have their ’04 draft class.
The MJHL Annual General Meetings concluded this weekend with the 2019 MJHL Bantam Draft from the Canad Inns Polo Park Hotel in Winnipeg on Sunday.
As a result of finishing in third place in the standings, Steinbach picked ninth in each round of the draft. The Pistons did not have a third round pick as they dealt their selection to the Winkler Flyers, but did have two fourth round picks as a result of an earlier trade with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
The Pistons would like to welcome all of their 2019 draft selections, and congratulate them and their families on making it to this point. We look forward to seeing them at our Rookie Camp in September.
Here is a list of each player that was picked by the Pistons in the 2019 MJHL Bantam Draft.
1st Round (9th) – D SAM COURT (Winnipeg Monarchs)
Height: 5’5” Weight: 131 pounds
Court becomes the 13th first round pick in the history of the Steinbach Pistons when he was taken 9th overall from the AAA Winnipeg Monarchs. The 15-year-old defenceman was second on his team in scoring with 38 points (13 G, 25 A) in 33 games with the Monarchs, and was fourth amongst all Manitoba bantam defencemen.
“Sam is a very intelligent defenceman who quarterbacks the PP.” Head Coach/GM Paul Dyck said of his first-round draft pick. “He plays with poise, has excellent vision, and has a very good skill set.
2nd Round (20th) – F BRYCE WARKENTINE (Eastman Selects)
Height: 5’9” Weight: 169 pounds
Warkentine was selected in the second round from the provincial bantam champion Eastman Selects. The Landmark forward averaged a point a game during the season with 34 points (16 G, 18 A) in 34 games, good enough for fourth in points on Eastman.
“Bryce has a knack for the net and produces offensively,” Dyck explained. “He has a solid work ethic to go along with good puck skills.”
4th Round (37th) – D KAYCEE COYLE (Eastman Selects)
Height: 5’7” Weight: 147 pounds
With no pick in the third round, Steinbach took two in the fourth round beginning with defenceman Kaycee Coyle. Coyle also won a provincial bantam title with the Eastman Selects this past season, netting 12 points (1 G, 11 A) in 36 games while also leading the Selects in penalty minutes (70).
“Kaycee is a solid all around right shot defenceman who can play in all situations,“ Dyck said. “He is a winner, as he played on the Eastman Selects championship team.”
4th Round (42nd) – F RYLAN HOSSACK (AAA Brandon Wheat Kings)
Height: 5’9” Weight: 174 pounds
Hossack becomes the second different Brandon AAA Wheat King taken in the fourth round by the Pistons, joining current d-man Curtis Ireland back in 2015. The Brandon forward registered 15 points (7 G, 8 A) in 35 games this season for the Wheat Kings.
“Rylan is a prototypical power forward,” Dyck analyzed of Hossack. “He possesses very good speed and size, and is difficult to play against.”
5th Round (54th) – D CARTER AMBROSE (Churchill High School Bulldogs)
Height: 5’8” Weight: 168 pounds
Ambrose was one of four players from the Churchill High School Academy Bulldogs selected in the MJHL Draft. The Winnipeg defenceman had 5 points (2 G, 3 A) in 13 games with the Bulldogs during the Winnipeg High School Hockey League season.
“Carter is a d-man that had a very solid year,” Dyck explained. “He can contribute on both ends of the ice, and brings a strong work ethic with him.”
6th Round (64th) – F LUCAS GILLSON (Winnipeg Warriors)
Height: 5’5” Weight: 128 pounds
Gillson was the final pick of the morning for the Pistons, as he was taken in the sixth round. The Winnipeg forward notched 13 points (7 G, 6 A) in 30 games for the Warriors this past season, and also put up 2 goals and 2 assists in the playoffs.
“Lucas is a skilled forward that has a lot of upside to his game,“ Dyck concluded. “I am looking forward to seeing where Lucas’s game is in 2-3 years.”