The Steinbach Pistons announced that 20-year-old forward Cole Cairns has been named captain for the 2026-27 season.
Getting the news
When Head Coach Paul Dyck called to tell him he would be getting the ‘C’, Cairns says it took a few moments to sink in. “It was awesome,” he says with a big smile. “Obviously, I’m feeling very honoured. It’s such a great community, and such a great place to play junior hockey. It’s an incredible feeling, and I’m just so grateful.”
Learning from leaders past
Over his time with the Pistons, spanning across three seasons, Cairns says he’s learned from some great leaders, and he’ll be taking parts of what he’s learned into this season. “I think all the leaders we’ve had, they’ve all done it in different ways, and I think that’s a big thing to take away. Everyone leads in their own way. Everyone has their own way of doing things, but you have to do what’s best for the team.”
Forming an identity
As the new season gets closer, Cairns says he and the other leaders on the team have talked throughout the summer, and they are looking forward to continuing to build. “I think that identity year to year is pretty similar,” the new captain explains. “We want to play hard and play fast. Talking with some of the veterans, we want to handle the team like a family. We want to have a close group that always has each other’s backs, includes everyone, and does whatever it takes for the team to be successful.”
Feeling the support
When it was announced at the Pistons Celebrity Golf Tournament, an event filled with alumni, supporters, fans, and community leaders, Cairns got a nice round of applause, and it was the pats on the back from past teammates that meant the most. “It meant so much,” he says with a humble grin. “They’ve been very nice about it, and I appreciate that a ton. Getting to tell Brett Kaiser, that was pretty cool. Spencer Penner, too.”
Staying level-headed
Being named captain won’t change the way he approaches the game, says Cairns, and he will keep being who he’s been as a player. “I think just being me is what I’m best at. So, I’ll stick to doing that, and I’ll hope for good results.”
Ready to rock
As players make the journey to Steinbach, Cairns says he’s looking forward to connecting with returning guys, as well as welcoming in all the new faces that are set to make up the team. “I’ve been counting down the days, and I’m ready to get going. I’m really excited for what we can do as a group this year.”
