Content courtesy of Dave Anthony/ Steinbach Online.
The Steinbach Pistons added a veteran piece to their blueline, bringing in 19-year-old Gavin Haslam in a trade with the Dauphin Kings, and while he’s thrilled to be in the blue and white, the Etobicoke, Ontario product is just as excited to be part of the community.
Welcome to the Steinbach Pistons
“When I got that phone call, it was an amazing feeling,” Haslam says from his home in Ontario. “Obviously, I’ve heard only good things about the community, about the team. It was just such a great feeling, and I was just super excited.”
The 2025/26 MJHL season
For Haslam, the 2025/26 season was his first in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and he says there was a bit of an adjustment, coming from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. “Oh yeah, going from a little bit faster of a junior league, it was hard,” he says with a chuckle. “I just kind of got opportunity and ran with it. It was an opportunity I had to earn. Just getting my feet wet, getting in the lineup, and just kind of pushing from there. A lot of adversity, but I feel like I faced it well. I think overall I had a great year last year.”
Stat-wise, Haslam scored 7 goals and added 7 assists for 14 points in 39 games.
“I learned it was a physical league pretty quickly,” the 2007-born defender says with a grin. “It’s a fast league. It’s a tough league. So you really have to adapt quickly. When I got into my first game, I was like, oh my gosh, this is a lot quicker. It’s very physical, and overall it’s just a harder league, so it kind of took me a little bit to adjust, but I think I handled it well.”
All-around kind of player
Coming to Steinbach, Haslam says his game is well-rounded, and fans can expect a solid player on both sides of the puck. “I would definitely say I’m a two-way defenseman,” he says, smiling. “I like to hop in the rush and join the offensive zone, but I also think I’m a very solid defender, and I don’t like to let pucks squeak in the net. I like to defend hard, and I like to get up in the rush, maybe score a couple goals, make some plays, and hopefully just be a solid addition to the lineup this year.”
When it comes to his role with the team, Haslam says his new coach has given him a bit of an outline. “I had a chance to talk with Paul (Dyck) the other night. He sounds like an amazing guy. He’s got a lot of experience and sounds like an amazing coach. He said he kind of wants older guys with experience, just like myself, to lead the way. I think that’s going to be a great fit for me.”
Ready for the role
Being 19-years-old and having over 100 games of junior A experience, Haslam believes he is ready to be a leader and an example for the younger players while being an all-situations guy. “100 percent, I’m up for that challenge,” he says confidently. “It’s very nice to see that I can pave the way. I’ve got over a hundred junior games played, and I want to show what I’ve learned over the last couple of years to the younger guys in the lineup.”
Coming to a new situation, Haslam believes you can’t demand leadership or respect, and that those things are not just handed to someone. “I think that kind of leadership kind of has to be earned in the room. You’ve got to earn all the boys’ respect. You have to kind of work with them the whole way through it, and then eventually a guy can be put in that social role of just kind of leading the way. Obviously, there’s not a lot of returning guys, but I’m sure that’s fine. Paul is going to put together an amazing team, and I think we’ll be a good team this year.”
Community engagement
When talking about being part of the Steinbach community, Haslam lit up, saying he’s beyond excited to be part of a community that is passionate about hockey, giving back to each other, and working with organizations. “Gosh, I’m so excited,” he says with a big, heartwarming smile. “I know I’m going to be volunteering there, I believe. I’ve just heard nothing but good things about the community, how everyone’s just nice, good personalities and whatnot. I think I’ll be a good fit.”
New home rink
On top of being part of the community, having the Southeast Events Centre to call home has also provided its fair share of goosebumps, as he admits to having thought about it quite a bit since getting the news of the trade. “I have, I have. It’s something I can’t even imagine,” he says, beaming. “It’s just all the fans, the atmosphere in there. It’s honestly amazing. When I was playing there, it was kind of hard because (the Pistons) obviously had the home ice advantage, and it was kind of shocking to see how active the crowd was and the energy that it brings to the home team.”
Games vs Dauphin
Haslam laughed when thinking about the first time he’d be going up against his former team, or even heading back to Dauphin, both of which happen relatively early in the 2026-27 season. “That’s one thing I haven’t really looked at yet, but I’ve kind of thought about playing my old teammates, and I’m sure they’re going to give me a tough time. But that’s all in friendly love, and obviously they’re my friends, but when the puck drops, we’re not friends anymore. That’s how hard I compete.”
Steinbach will play at home vs the Kings on October 10th, and we head to Dauphin on October 30th. “That’s really cool to see,” Haslam says with a laugh.
Embracing the grind
After learning on the job last year, Haslam went into this summer with a slightly different mindset and has been working hard to ensure he takes another positive step forward in his play next season. “I’ve just been preparing. I’ve been working out every day. I’ve been shooting pucks every day. Just a bunch of physical training, and it’s all about getting those reps in to make sure you’re prepared for camp and prepared for the season. I think last year was amazing just to kind of test the waters, but I think I’m fully prepared for it this year. It was a little bit hard leaving my province and leaving home and whatnot, but I’ve been away from home since I was 16 years old, so it’s something I’ve kind of learned to deal with. Now I definitely have a better feel for it.”
Parents just as excited
Coming to Steinbach is not just Gavin Haslam, but the Haslam family, a fact he says his parents were pretty pumped about as soon as they got the news. “Gosh, when my dad heard that I got traded, he was so excited because he knows Steinbach is one of the best, if not the best, programs in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. My mom, she loves the idea. My whole family is just so proud for me.”
New jersey, new number
When discussing a possible number change, Haslam says he’s put some thought into it, but is open to a few possibilities. “I’m just going to have to wait to see what’s available,” he says with a bit of a grin. “Obviously, I’ve switched from number 6 to 22 and now to 44 last year. Anything that I can really kind of match up with 44 and 22. Maybe cut it in half or just matching numbers. Anything I can connect. I’m just going to have to wait.”
Pre-season games getting closer
Steinbach’s first of four pre-season games will be September 4th in Winkler.
The first home pre-season game will be September 5th, also against Winkler.
