Courtesy: Dave Anthony – Steinbach Online
It was the two top teams in the MJHL going head to head in front of over 2200 people at the Southeast Event Centre on Friday night, and the game surpassed the hype, delivering a terrific contest which ended when Rory Gilmour scored in overtime, lifting the Steinbach Pistons to a 4-3 win over the Niverville Nighthawks.
First period
There was a buzz in the building even in the hours leading up to the game. Several people commented on how it felt much different from a typical game in early December.
With Niverville leading the season series 3-0 heading in, Steinbach wanted to start the game with some jam, and they were able to get on the board early.
Niverville took a penalty, giving the Pistons a man advantage, but in the early part of the power play, it was the Nighthawks who were on their toes and in the face of Steinbach, pushing the pace the other way and refusing to let the Pistons get anything going up the ice.
Just when it looked as though the power play would be squandered, Brett Kaiser flipped a puck out to the neutral zone, and Marek Miller managed to pick it up in stride. The 19-year-old worked his way into the offensive zone and, with all the Nighthawks watching him, Miller slid a pass to a wide-open Rory Gilmour, who came crashing toward the net, and he made no mistake, scoring his 5th of the season, making it 1-0 Steinbach.
It didn’t take long for the Nighthawks to respond as a defender of their own, Thomas Phillips, took a great drop pass from Adam Vigfusson, and while his first shot was blocked, he followed it up with another quick release, which found the back of the net, knotting the game a 1-1. For Phillips, it was goal three on the season.
In picking up the assists, both Wheddon and Vigfusson extended their respective point streaks to 14 and 8 games, respectively.
An ill-timed icing put the Nighthawks in the offensive zone, allowing the Nighthawks to set up a faceoff play, which they executed to perfection.
Evan Panzer won the draw back to Aaron Krestanowich, and the veteran defender took some off the shot toward the net, allowing Panzer to tip it up and in, for his 8th of the season, putting the visitors up 2-1.
Shots in the period were 15-13 Steinbach, as both Easton Thvedt for Steinbach and Austin Dubinsky for Niverville were quite busy, both making some very timely saves.
2-1 would be the score heading into the intermission, as both teams and fans from each side could take a breath.
Second period
Steinbach came out of the intermission with a plan, and they worked it throughout.
Shift after shift, Steinbach put pucks on net and then drove the net, looking for opportunities, as there were multiple instances where pucks were loose in the crease area.
Niverville defended the home plate area and managed to keep Steinbach from finding the goal to tie the game.
They could only hold the fort for so long.
Kaiser again started the play by using his speed to gain the offensive zone, then slowed everything and everyone down, and by doing so, it allowed Evan Gradt to keep his speed up and catch the Nighthawks standing still. Gradt tore around the side of the net and while he was almost behind the goal, he used his reach to stuff the puck back out front, knocking it off the goalie’s leg and in, for his 12th of the season, evening the game 2-2. Luke Bogart also picked up an assist on the 2-2 goal.
Just over two minutes later, Niverville took the lead right back.
A great stretch pass from Calyb Moore hit a streaking Ryken Arran, who showed off his elite speed by getting to the side of the Pistons defender, and that speed caused the netminder to misplay the angle, allowing Arran the far side to snipe his 7th of the season, putting Niverville back on top, 3-2. John Scott also picked up the secondary assist.
Not long after, it appeared as though Steinbach was set to tie the game, as a loose puck in front was knocked home by a Steinbach forward, but despite the puck not being covered, a quick whistle killed the play just a second before the puck went into the net.
The sold-out crowd let their opinion be known as jeers filled the rink, but their feelings were not taken into account, and the goal was disallowed, keeping Niverville on top 3-2.
Steinbach held the edge in shots through the middle frame, 16-7 and had some glorious chances to not only tie the game but perhaps grab a lead, but it wasn’t to be.
Third period
Holding onto a one-goal lead, Niverville showcased its dedicated pursuit and structure, keeping Steinbach from getting much through the neutral zone in the first half of the final frame.
Steinbach showed a mature approach, continuing to chip away, working hard to gain an edge that would eventually get them back to all square on the scoreboard.
Bogart jumped in off the blueline, keeping the play alive, and the 19-year-old defender did an excellent job of shielding off the check of a defender, working his way around the net and then finding Gradt all alone in the slot, as he wired home his second of the game, 13th on the year, and the crowd erupted as Steinbach tied the game 3-3.
He didn’t get an assist, but Grady Hoffman deserves some credit for the goal, as the 20-year-old went to the front of the net, dragging his check with him, and the two players caused the screen in front, allowing Gradt to get some space and bury the goal.
Steinbach kept pushing, then it was Niverville who pushed right back, but time ticked away, and this December classic would need overtime to decide a winner.
Overtime
The first good chance in the extra frame went to Niverville, but it was Thvedt who came up with a big glove save to keep the game going.
Both teams traded puck possession, but strong defensive work kept either side from generating what they wanted to.
That was until Kaiser marched into the zone, worked his way around the Niverville goal and found Gilmour walking in from the point. Gilmour wired home an absolutely perfect shot, top corner, sending the home fans home happy as Steinbach claimed a 4-3 win in overtime.
Gilmour started the scoring in the first and ended it in the extra frame, celebrating his second of the night and 6th of the year, while Kaiser nabbed his third point of the contest and Bogart collected his second.
Game notes
Steinbach went 1-2 on the power play, while Niverville went 0-1.
Easton Thvedt picked up his 11th win of the season, making 23 saves.
Austin Dubinsky finished with the OTL after making 36 saves.
Niverville’s 16-game winning streak came to an end, but they have collected at least a point in 17 straight games.
Steinbach extended their most recent winning streak to four and won 10 of their last 12.
Stat pack
Evan Gradt has scored six points in his last two games (3 goals, 3 assists) and is one goal away from matching a career high (14), one assist away from matching a career high (19), and two points away from matching a career high (33).
Brett Kaiser has six points in his last three games and set a new career high in penalty minutes in a season with 58.
Luke Bogart has four assists in his last three games.
Marek Miller has seven points in his last eight games.
Rory Gilmour is the first Pistons defender to score an overtime winner since Noah Szabo scored against the then Winnipeg Freeze on October 7th, 2023.
Up next
The Selkirk Steelers come to town as the Pistons continue their homestand. Puck drop on Sunday is set for 2:30 p.m.
