The Steinbach Pistons hit the road today for a 7:30pm matchup against the Dauphin Kings. It will be the Pistons first time seeing them since the MJHL Finals last year.
Steinbach has looked great to start the season as they have started the season with seven wins and zero losses. A balance between good goaltending, lockdown defence and offense that’s generating scoring has gotten them to this point and snuck them out of a few close games. All of Steinbach’s wins have come in regulation apart from one shootout win against the Selkirk Steelers. Steinbach’s top line of Davis Fry (13 points), Travis Hensrud (12 points) and Ty Paisley (11 points) have been lights out as they have combined for 16 goals in 7 games. Travis Hensrud was also named the MJHL player of the month. Goaltending has also been a strength for the Pistons as started Cole Plowman has got 5-0 with a 2.56 GAA and 0.899 SV% which also got him MJHL Goalie of the Month honours for September.
The Dauphin Kings have had a bit of a slower start to the season compared to the Pistons as they currently have a record of 3-4-1. Dauphin is coming off a home and home against the Winnipeg Blues where they split but each game was filled with goals. In losing goaltender Carson Cherepak the Kings had a massive void to fill and Keaton Woolsey has been their guy so far. He is currently 2-2 on the season with a 4.46 GAA and a 0.849 SV%, something that he will be looking to improve as the season continues.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PISTONS: PP 10/32 – 31.3% PK 23/28 – 82.1%
KINGS: PP 4/30 – 13.3% PK 29/38 – 76.3%
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Travis Hensrud
Travis Hensrud has hit the ground running this season and has looked great. Hensrud has 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists) in 7 games and has been an offensive force for the Pistons. Travis plays all sides of the puck as he is also on the powerplay, and the penalty kill. Hensrud is the only player on the Pistons so far to have a goal even strength, on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. Travis was named MJHL player of the Month for September for his hot start and he will look to continue that into October.
Kings: Mathew Gough
Mathew Gough leads the Kings in scoring this season with 6 points (3 goals and 3 assists) in 7 games. Gough was brought in from the GOJHL where last season he got 24 points in 27 games. As an over ager for the Kings, Gough will look to use his experience to help lead the team and be an offensive force for them this season.