Content Provided By: Steinbach Online
It was not an ideal start for Steinbach, giving up the first two goals of the game before digging themselves out of the hole and eventually posted a 7-3 win to extend their win streak to 8 games.
To open the contest, the Pistons were a little scattered and it allowed the scrappy Winnipeg Freeze to kind of hang around and eventually, find a way to grab a 2-0 lead, notching a pair of markers 18 seconds apart.
Jamie Fuchs would get Steinbach on the board a few minutes later as the 20-year-old BC product shot a puck off a won face-off and while his original chance was stopped, he followed it up and cashed in for his 6th of the year, cutting the Winnipeg lead to 2-1. Sam Noad, the center who won the draw, picked up the lone assist.
Brayden Barnett would square the game up as the hulking 20-year-old managed to score his first MJHL goal. After helping keep the play alive in the corner, the puck found Fuchs who dished it up to Luke Bogart who sifted a pass back to Barnett in the half-slot and he made no mistake scoring to tie the game 2-2.
Barnett, known as ‘The Sheriff’, was all smiles after the game, sporting one of, if not the best mustache in the league.
Special for Bogart who’s father was in attendance to watch his son help the Pistons take a 2-2 game into the intermission.
In the second, Eric Cote, back after missing a stretch due to injury, fired a puck from the point that was expertly deflected by Brayden Berg, scoring his 7th of the year and putting Steinbach on top for the first time, 3-2. Brody Green coming off his 17th birthday, collected the secondary assist.
Less than two minutes later, Noad would add a goal to go with his earlier assist as the 19-year-old absolutely sniped a beauty short side for his 4th of the season. Fuchs and Reece Gault picked up the assists as the lead grew to 4-2.
Not done yet, Fuchs would factor in yet again as he set up Barnett who finished off a great net drive for his second of the game, making it 5-2 for the home side. Noah Szabo continued his hot play of late, getting the secondary assist.
The third period provided a bit of life for the Freeze who scored on a 5 on 3 power play, cutting the lead to 5-3.
They would get no closer.
After killing off the second part of that two-man advantage for Winnipeg, Steinbach’s Jackson Kostiuk worked himself free in the slot and let loose a heavy wrist shot that found it’s way past the goalie and in for his 6th from Cote and Berg.
For the first time at home this year, Steinbach would hit the magical 7 mark thanks to a great shot from Bogart and an even better deflection from Cole Cairns, who picked up his 3rd of the year, pushing the lead to 7-3. Gavin Holod was also given an assist on the final goal.
For Cairns, also known as ‘Ice Spice’, it was his first ever point in La Broquerie. “The curse has been lifted” he said with a smile after the game.
Christian Green picked up his 12th win of the year and 7th victory in a row. He made 16 saves on the night.
Steinbach’s power play was 0-6 while the penalty kill was 5-6.
A second straight home game is set up for Saturday as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines come to town.