Not one, not two, but three of the new guys found their first goals in Steinbach Pistons uniforms, while Lincoln Molind stood tall with 19 saves for his first shutout of the season as Steinbach shut out Neepawa 5-0 tonight at Southeast Event Centre.
Luke Assi, Rykan Baumle, Paraon Shahi, and Jameson Duell made their MJHL debuts tonight.
William Picklyk entered the Titans’ zone on the right side and dished a cross-ice feed to Rohan Guevarra. Defenceman Caden Lave came pinching in right down the middle and received a setup pass from Guevarra before one-timing it past Conner Nicolson, making it 1-0 Pistons with his first goal with the club just under six minutes into the first period.
Steinbach increased its lead to two at 9:13. Marek Miller forced a turnover in Neepawa’s zone and found himself alone on a breakaway, where he beat the Titans netminder on his backhand for his second of the year.
Neither team found the back of the net until later in the second period. Newly acquired Piston Luke Assi quickly went around the Neepawa net and fired a short-side shot past Nicolson’s arm for his first MJHL goal, making it 3-0 Steinbach.
Another new face got their first MJHL goal as well 7:50 into the third. Cullen Ingebritson sent a cross-ice pass from below the right faceoff dot to Duell, and he fired a quick backhand shot past the Titans goaltender to make it 4-0.
Rory Gilmour chipped in on the scoring late in the third for his first of the year, helping Steinbach remain undefeated on the season with the shutout victory.
“That’s a smart group there. I thought they just looked more and more comfortable as the game went on,” said Pistons head coach Paul Dyck, speaking with Dave Anthony about the line of Nicklas Whytrychowski, Parson Shahi and Luke Assi. “Three big bodies that think it well, and they possessed it a fair amount. I thought that’s a really good start for those guys.”
Steinbach is right back in action tomorrow night for the second half of a home-and-home back-to-back when they take on the Virden Oil Capitals for the first time since last season’s playoffs. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Article by Evan Waldner
