The Pistons Tribune Podcast. Two seasons of Bachelor Mondays with the Pistons. The Pistons Office video.
All of these highly acclaimed shows/videos were not the brainchild of us here with the Pistons marketing team. They were created and produced by Steinbach Pistons forward Easton Bennett.
While most of Pistons fans know him by spending the past two years in Steinbach on the ice, Bennett was busy this past hockey season making connections in the business community away from the rink.
He started a videography business called Bennett Creative Media, in which he partnered with local businesses to create specialized and tailored videos and commercials for their needs. And he did this while playing hockey at a high level for the past two years.
“With junior hockey you’re pretty much living hockey the whole time, and when you’re not you’re probably playing Fortnite,” Bennett joked. “When I had free time, it was easy to sneak in some videos here and there and substitute the Xbox.”
He explains how this passion was kickstarted of his. “Originally, I had taken my parents’ camera because I wanted to create a Jimmy Fallon-like show on YouTube, but I realized early on that it wasn’t going to happen,” he said. “So I started making some below average videos inspired by Peter McKinnon (Canadian filmmaker and YouTuber) and I was hooked.”
Bennett started Bennett Creative Media in the summer of 2018 and got an idea. “I wanted to change the way businesses promoted using videos because they were really boring, and so I thought I could spice them up a bit,” he explained. “At first it was just doing some jobs for people I knew, but the legitimacy of the business is in full effect now with a website and real life paper work as of early 2019.”
He joined the Pistons in 2017 and helped Steinbach to an MJHL and ANAVET Cup title while playing on a dominant checking line with Brady Tatro and Tanner Mole.
His role increased with the Pistons this season, and became a reliable player for Head Coach/GM Paul Dyck down the stretch when his team was dealing with a large amount of injuries. Bennett quarterbacked a power play unit and played big minutes on the kill. And while the Pistons’ back end took a hit in the latter part of the season and beginning of the playoffs, he dropped back to play defence in a shutdown role and continued his success.
He notched 53 points in 112 career regular season games, and had 21 points in 38 postseason games including one goal and eight assists in the 2019 MJHL playoffs.
Outside of the TG Smith, Bennett most notably created and produced two seasons of the popular “Bachelor Mondays with the Pistons” video series for the Pistons’ YouTube channel in which he along with some of his fellow teammates recapped previous episodes of the reality TV series ‘The Bachelor’ happening during the season every Monday night.
“It started at the Penner house (Bruce and Kim Penner, billets of the Pistons) when I was talking with Scooby (Bradley Schoonbaert), Kernel (Tyson McConnell), Dec (Declan Graham), and Molezy (Tanner Mole),” he recalled. “We watched (former NHL tough guy) Paul Bissonette doing it with the Florida Panthers, and we said we could do that and I’d produce it. And we just did it that next week.”
“That was a blast to do,” Bennett said. “It’s fun to talk to the guys in a personal setting, and you get to know them outside of hockey and what their “type” is,” referring to contestants on the show.
When asked for a favourite or funniest moment while filming the episodes, the Minot, North Dakota native says there was too many to choose from. “I’d have to say how worked up Tyson got when something happens on the show,” he said. “He really takes it to heart, and it’s funny to see (The Bachelor) have that effect on him.”
Bennett connected with many local businesses in Steinbach as well. He made a few commercials for the Pistons LED screen during the season, and created videos for businesses to promote on their channels also. “It was awesome getting to be further involved in the community,” he said. “You get to work in schools and volunteer, but it’s nice to get to know local businesses and see how they keep the town running and how they are such a big part of the community. I was glad I could help.”
Now back home in Minot, Bennett is planning a big event that will take place in his hometown called the ‘Business Influencer Festival’; a two day event being held on June 19th and 20th. “It’s composed of keynote speakers and networking opportunities to spread awareness on modern marketing tactics and business tips,” he described. “Day 1 is for kids aged 16-22 to learn what it’s all about to start a business, and Day 2 is for professionals already in the industry to sharpen their skills and learn new things.”
He isn’t sure where he might go next to play hockey. But we’re sure that he’s going to continue to make great content off the ice, and leaves Steinbach as a champion on the ice.
“I will definitely remember all of the times I had with the boys, and the community and city of Steinbach was unbelievable for junior A hockey,” Bennett remarked. “I knew nothing about it when I was coming up there, but I made more friends and memories than anything. I will never forget all the people that supported us, and (winning) the Turnbull and ANAVET Cup championships last season.”