Signed, sealed and delivered. The Steinbach Pistons are proud to announce another commitment from their group of 2019-20 graduates.
Ryan Butler, who came to Steinbach in an early January trade, has signed with the Adrian College Bulldogs of the NCAA Division III for the upcoming season. The school, located about one hour southwest of Detroit, Michigan, runs a strong program which is often a contender for the top team in their division, and most recently Harris Cup Champions this past season.
Butler scored 6 goals and tallied up 13 assists in 19 games with the Pistons during the latter part of the 2019-20 regular season. Prior to being traded, the Kelowna, British Columbia product had 33 points in 28 games with the OCN Blizzard.
The numbers obviously caught the attention of Head Coach and General Manager Paul Dyck, but he says it was more than the hockey aspect that made Butler a great fit in Steinbach.
“Ryan was an excellent addition for us as he fit in seamlessly with our group. His character is top notch and he is an extremely coachable player,” adds Dyck about the 20-year-old forward. “He played a large role in our success down the stretch and we are excited to see him continue his development at the NCAA level next season.”
Although being able to complete the first round of playoffs with a 4-game sweep, the way the season ended was a heart breaker for many including Butler who says his teammates, the staff and fans made his 20-year-old season one to remember.
“Every game we had such an incredible fan base which made for an incredible atmosphere to play in. Our group of guys, this year, was a truly special group that was connected like a family and we definitely would have done great things in the playoffs.
Butler says he is thrilled about his commitment to Adrian and looks forward to improving his game and helping the program capture a few more championships.
During the last few months at home, Butler adds he has been training every day and even working on his golf game as he waited for the rinks to open back up. He says he is spending a lot of time at the rink now gearing up for his freshman year.
The Steinbach Pistons would like to thank Ryan for his time in Steinbach and congratulate him on his commitment.