Courtesy of TheCarillon.com – Written by Terry Frey
Wrap your ahead around this one for a moment.
The Steinbach Pistons are the number one ranked team in the country in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings. And for good reason.
The Pistons proved again why they have such a lofty ranking by trouncing the Winnipeg Blues 5-1 last night in Steinbach, their sixth straight victory to start this Manitoba Junior Hockey League season.
Skating to period leads of 1-0 and 3-1, the Pistons scored four powerplay goals on the night, two of them by Landon Plett, who now leads the MJHL in scoring with six goals and 11 points in six games. Drew Anderson, William Koop and Jordan Bochinski had the other Steinbach markers. Bochinski had a three-point night and also has 11 points on the season.
Roman Bengert was strong in net for the Pistons as he made 27 saves for the win. The Blues fall to 2-3-1 on the season.
Pistons’ head coach said Paul Dyck said, in somewhat of an understatement in describing his number one ranked squad, “we are happy where the team is at, it is encouraging, we like our line-up and how competitive we are.” Okay we get it, it’s a long season, but it certainly catches ones attention to see the Steinbach Pistons ranked number one in Canada. Congratulations to the players and the entire organization for that early season recognition.
Three of Steinbach’s victories in the first sixe games have come over the Wolverines, the league doormats, including the season opener as the Pistons have outscored the Wolverines 21-4 in the process. But conversely, the Pistons have also defeated the two-time defending champion Portage Terriers. So they have prevailed, at least in this early going, over the good and the bad.
Selkirk also has 10 points in the standings, with a 5-1 record, with their only loss also coming at the hands of the Pistons.
The Pistons next see action Saturday night when they host the Neepawa Natives at 7:30 p.m. They will then have the balance of Thanksgiving Weekend off before facing the Winkler Flyers next Wednesday at Winkler.