GAME PREVIEW
Welcome to tonight’s game between the visiting Selkirk Steelers (1-3-0) and your Steinbach Pistons (3-0-0)!
The Pistons are coming off of an unusual weekend against the Winnipeg Freeze last week. It began with a 5-4 shootout victory on Saturday over the Freeze at the TG Smith, followed by a Sunday afternoon game that was suspended with over five minutes remaining in the first period due to unsafe ice conditions at the Rink Training Centre. That game will resume on November 15th.
Rylan Bettens and Caden Triggs scored two quick goals to begin the game on Saturday, but the Freeze stormed back to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. The Pistons would score twice more thanks to Matt Osadick and Codey Behun, but the game was forced into a shootout where Behun and Bettens would score and Simon Harkness was a perfect 2 for 2 shutting down Freeze shooters to help the Pistons pick up the extra point.
Selkirk began their regular season with four games against the Winnipeg Blues, winning once (a 3-2 shootout win last Friday) and losing in regulation three times. Steinbach have seen the Steelers once before in their first exhibition game, with the Pistons winning 9-2 back on September 29th.
The Steelers are led in scoring by rookie forward Adam Ingram with 4 points, while top offensive players Ryan Ostermann and Tristan Thompson sit behind him with 3 points. Selkirk is led on the back end by Thomas Colter, the only 20-year-old currently on their roster, and third-year d-man Eric Krywy.
Catch all of tonight’s action live on HockeyTV or on your radio at MIX 96.7 FM with the game starting at 7:30 pm. We hope you enjoy tonight’s game!
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pistons PP 4/16 (25%), PK 13/15 (86.7%)
Steelers PP 1/10 (10%), PK 20/26 (76.9%)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Blake Burr
The 19-year-old third year MJHLer will be facing his former team for the first time tonight. He had a very quiet opening weekend, but started to come alive last Saturday against the Freeze with three grade A scoring opportunities, including one that hit the post. Some extra motivation for Burr tonight could propel him to have a great weekend, so watch for him closely tonight.
Steelers: Sheldin Howard
Howard split last season between the Steelers and the Portage Terriers, and is now in his third season in the MJHL. He didn’t score a point against Steinbach in 2019-20, but he did notch a hat-trick during one game versus the Pistons back in his rookie season in Portage. His big frame is always difficult to deal with in front of the net, so the Pistons will need to focus on now allowing second or third chances where guys like Howard can clean up the rebounds.