The Steinbach Pistons head up north this weekend to faceoff against the Swan Valley Stampeders on November 18th and the OCN Blizzard on November 19th.
The Steinbach Pistons currently sit tied for first in the MJHL with a 16-4 record and 32 points. The Pistons had their first back-to-back losses of the season earlier this month to the Niverville Nighthawks and Portage Terriers but bounced back with a 6-2 win over the Freeze last game. The Pistons top line of Paisley, Fry and Hensrud still are all in the top 5 in MJHL scoring even though Hensrud has missed the past few games due to injury. Cole Plowman currently has a 0.909 SV% and a 2.59 GAA, with the team as a whole leading the MJHL in shutouts with three.
“It’s always tough…and a challenge to then prepare yourself both mentally and physically, but that’s part of being on the road and playing with a bit more adversity” Head Coach and GM Paul Dyck stated about their first overnight road trip of the season. With the Pistons having some players back in the lineup this coming weekend Dyck commented, “we’ve got a few bodies back in the lineup this weekend, so it allows us to bring a little more depth because we are going to need everybody. It’s often the leadership group that takes control of the room…so that’s huge to have them on this trip.”
The Swan Valley Stampeders are playing at an all-time high right now, winning six of their last seven games. The Stampeders have worked their way up the MJHL standings, currently sitting in 5th place with 26 points. Goaltending has been a strength for Swan Valley with Kobe Grant boasting a 0.924 SV% and a 2.86 GAA. Swan Valleys most recent win came over the league leading Portage Terriers with the Stampeders winning by a score of 6-4.
OCN still sits close to the top of the MJHL standings as they are currently in second place with 31 points. Riley Zimmerman has been a force to be reckoned with as he has 29 points (14 goals and 14 assists) in 24 games. OCN’s goaltending Tandem of Chase Hamm and Ethan Farrow has been top tier as they’ve combined for a 0.920 SV% and a 2.43 GAA. OCN is currently on a two-game skid and will be looking to turn that around this coming weekend.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PISTONS: PP 24/90 – 26.7% PK 79/90 – 87.8%
STAMPEDERS: PP 13/76 – 17.1% PK 70/92 – 76.1%
BLIZZARD: PP 23/108 – 21.3% PK 77/90 – 85.6%
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Davis Fry
Davis Fry currently leads the MJHL in scoring with 32 points (10 goals and 22 assists) in 20 games. Fry is coming off a four-point night against the Winnipeg Freeze that saw him get one goal and three assists. Davis Fry also recently took place in the Top Prospects showcase in Portage, that saw him get 3 points (1 goal and 2 assists) in two games.
Stampeders: Justin Keck
Justin Keck leads the Stampeders in scoring with 24 points (11 goals and 13 assists) in 20 games. Keck also took place in the Top Prospects showcase as he got one assist over the two games. Keck plays in all scenarios for the Stampeders as he generates offence on the powerplay and even strength but also is useful on the PK and shutting down the offence.
Blizzard: Riley Zimmerman
Riley Zimmerman has looked really good this season on this new look OCN Blizzard team. In 24 games Zimmerman has 29 points (14 goals and 15 assists). Zimmerman also took part in the Top Prospects showcase, getting three points (2 goals and 1 assist) in 2 games. Zimmerman leads the surging OCN offense in all facets. He produces on the powerplay and even strength, generating offence and breakouts but also playing a 200-ft game and disrupting the other team’s offence.