The Steinbach Pistons are proud to announce that graduating defenceman Dylan Cassie has committed to the Minot State University Beavers of ACHA Division I.
A veteran of 206 career regular season games in the MJHL, Cassie came to the Pistons in a 2019 blockbuster offseason deal from the Winnipeg Blues where he spent his first three seasons in the league. The Winnipeg native played heavy minutes in all situations as he quickly was relied upon by the Steinbach coaching staff all season long.
“Dylan was a warrior for us this year, and I am happy to see him continue on with his hockey career,“ Head Coach/GM Paul Dyck said of his graduating d-man. “He exhibited a team-first attitude all season and is the type of player you win with.“
Cassie posted five goals and a career-high 31 points while playing the full 60 game regular season schedule for the first time in his junior career. He suited up in all four games against the Blues in the 2020 playoffs before the rest of the postseason was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Minot for me pretty much was the perfect fit,“ the four-year MJHLer said. “I think it’ll be an easier transition with knowing a few ex MJHL players. Plus it’s only five hours away from home.”
Located in Minot, North Dakota, Minot State is a school of approximately 2,500 students on campus. The Beavers hockey team has won two ACHA national championships in 2013 and 2019.
Cassie will suit up next season with the likes of former Piston Riley Vautour, and joins a 2020 recruiting class that includes recent graduates from the MJHL such as Carter Barley of the Portage Terriers, Brayden Pawluk of the Dauphin Kings, and Nick Doyle of the Wayway Wolverines.
When asked if playing with the players he’s played against during his time in the MJHL was a contributing factor, Cassie was quick to say that it was. “A lot of these ex MJ players we have for the most part played a lot against each other,” he explained. “It’ll be nice now to put some names to faces and play with these players in Minot.”
For the most part Cassie has stayed busy during the COVID-19 pandemic, doing a lot of housework for his parents and playing a lot of video games. “It’s always nice to spend time with family that you don’t get during the hockey year,” he commented. But he also went on to say that he’ll resume on-ice training in July with Skills Development Coach JP Vigier in July.
Cassie was only in Steinbach for his 20-year-old season, but he made an impact both in the dressing room, out on the ice, and in the community by volunteering a lot of his time to visit schools in the region.
“Steinbach was an awesome first-class organization, I really enjoyed playing my last year of junior hockey here,” he complimented. “To me they really contributed a winning culture to my game, whether that was the coaches, my teammates, or the fans. Everyone pushes you to be better, and I can’t thank the Pistons organization enough!”
The Pistons would like to congratulate Dylan and his family on his commitment to Minot State University.