Steinbach Pistons rookie forward Vaughn Dupre led the charge Saturday night with his first multi-point game as a junior player, stringing together three points helping lift the Steinbach Pistons to a 4-1 win over the Neepawa Natives.
The Pistons got the scoring started at 6:57 of the first period when Pistons captain Jordan Bochinski scored his 11th goal of the season and third in the past two games. The lone assist was given to Ste. Anne’s Dupre.
Neepawa quickly answered back to give the game back at one a piece when Josh Sielsky tallied his 3rd of the season from Reigan Buchanan at 8:04 of the first.
However, Neepawa wasn’t able to contain the line of Bochinski, Braden Purtill and Dupre as they went off for two more goals in the opening frame. Dupre scored his 6th from Purtill and Darby Gula at 9:56. And then Purtill picked up his 2nd of the year from Dupre at 13:11.
The Pistons would close out the game’s scoring with their 4th goal on the power play off the stick of Darby Gula with the assists going to the Pistons point leader Mackenzie Graham and newly acquired Joseph Leonidas.
Matthew Radomsky received the start for the Pistons, stopping 39 of 40 to improve his season record to 7-2. Evan Robert started for Neepawa but was pulled in the first after allowing 4 goals on 8 shots. Tyler Gutenberg entered the game in relief and stopped all 21 shots he faced. Robert was given the loss, going to 3-9 on the year.
The Pistons play their next game on the road in Winkler on Wednesday. The Pistons (24-4-1) have only played the Winkler Flyers (22-9-0) once so far this year, and that was a 6-1 victory in Winkler back on October 12th. Puck drops 7:30 pm at the Winkle Recreation Center.