Lincoln Molind turned aside 21 shots while Eric Han found the back of the net and dropped the gloves as the Steinbach Pistons opened their 2026-27 campaign with a win on the road tonight in Winkler.
The opening 20 minutes remained scoreless despite the Pistons getting their first look at the penalty kill twice this season.
Steven Foster opened the scoring for the home side 11:42 into the middle frame. Winkler native Carson Hiebert found Foster in the slot, and he beat a sprawling Steinbach goaltender to make it 1-0.
Eric Han, who’s entering his second season with the club, tied things up with just over five minutes left to play in the second. The 19-year-old got by a couple of Flyers and sped into the slot, where he fired a wrist shot past Winkler goaltender Jackson Dunn, one of Han’s friends.
“He’s one of my really good buddies from back home,” said Han of Dunn to Dave Anthony postgame. “It was nice to throw one on him.”
Another second-year Piston, William Picklyk, gave Steinbach its first lead of the night just 1:11 later. A loose puck found its way in front of the Flyers’ net, and Picklyk pounced on it to make it 2-1.
Olivier Mathieu gave Steinbach some breathing room at 7:11 into the third with a beautiful goal. Mathieu snuck behind the Winkler defence and slipped the puck on his forehand past Dunn’s pad.
With just over a minute left to play, Han and Kam Thomas dropped the gloves for a heavyweight tilt that lasted around 40 seconds.
Tonight’s heated contest will carry over into tomorrow night as both clubs will face each other again at Southeast Event Centre for the Pistons’ home opener. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Article witten by Evan Waldner
