The upcoming season will be a little brighter for the Steinbach Pistons as the City of Steinbach have finished installing new LED lights and a new roof cover.

In this edition of Pistons alumni update, we re-connect with local hockey superstar Daniel Taillefer.

A reminder to all Pistons alumni, you can now register online to our new alumni database.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League has released the upcoming schedule for the 2017-18 season.

The Steinbach Pistons hosted another successful Hockey in the City tournament this past weekend. Players and parents packed the T.G. Smith Centre to take part in a fun-filled day that included 11 teams from the ages of 7 to 14.   The following are this years Hockey in the City Winners:   7 (2010) and 8 (2009) year-old Division: Eastman Junior Pistons   9 (2008) and 10 (2007) year-old Division: Transcona All-Stars   11 (2006 to 14 (2003) year-old Division: The McChickens Team   The Pistons would like to thank all the teams that registered and participated in this years Hockey in the City tournament. We would also like to thank all our volunteers and Pistons players who helped set up, manage and ref throughout the event. 

In this edition of Pistons Alumni Update, we re-connect with one of the most beloved players to have played for the Steinbach Pistons, defenseman Kyle Rous (Pictured above with his parents celebrating an SEMHL championship as a member of the Notre Dame Hawks). Rous played 4 seasons with the Pistons from 2009-13, where he established himself as a dominant force on the back-end. Rous began his career with the organization when he was called up to play with the Beausejour Blades in the 2008-09 season. In his next three seasons with the newly relocated Steinbach Pistons, the Winnipeg product endured his fair share of team struggles as the Pistons won 47 games. In comparison, this past 2016-17 season saw the Pistons win 49 games. Although the team struggled, Rous remained loyal to the organization and consistently produced excellent individual seasons. Rous elevated his game to another level during the 2012-13 season. He was awarded the team captaincy and through his leadership, Rous exhibited the dedication and hard work it would take in order to be successful at the junior level. With a smart hockey sense, gritty attitude and wicked shot, Rous led by example on and off the ice and helped the Pistons reach its first MJHL Playoff berth. Although this was Rous’ first taste of Junior A playoff action, the star defenseman played with poise, becoming the Pistons go-to player in all situations. Not only was Rous an offensive threat in the oppositions end, but he was tasked with shutting down the opponents top lines. All the struggles that Rous experienced early on in his career were worth it as he ended his junior career an MJHL Champion. The captain finished his graduating year by leading the Pistons to the Inaugural Western Canada Cup in Naniamo, British Columbia. Rous ended his Pistons career as the teams top defenseman in all major statistical categories. Rous finished first in games played by a defenseman with 207, goals with 43, assists with 93 and points with 136. In 19 career playoff games with the Pistons, Rous finished with 3 goals, 10 assists and 13 points. Rous was awarded many league accomplishments during his Pistons career, including a spot in the MJHL All Star game in 2010-11, the Player of the Month award for January of the 2012-13 season, an MJHL First All Star Team selection for the 2012-13 season and an MJHL Championship.   The following is Kyle Rous’ Q and A   STP: What are you doing in life these days? Rous: I've recently bought a house in Notre Dame de Lourdes with my girlfriend. I am working for MND Plumbing as an apprentice and playing hockey with the Notre Dame Hawks, who won the SEMHL championship this past season.   STP: What are your plans for the future? Rous: My future plans are to complete my levels and become a journeyman plumber.  In the next couple of years, my girlfriend and I hope to get married and start a family.  I also plan on continuing to play hockey with the Notre Dame Hawks.   STP: Do you still follow the team during the season? Rous: I follow the team as much as I can. I enjoy seeing highlights on their social media pages and catching a game or two when I have the time.  I rarely miss checking the score to see how the team is doing during playoffs.   STP: Do you still connect with any of your former pistons teammates? Rous: Yes, all of the time. Most of those guys became like brothers during our junior days, and I still play with and against some. Since moving to a small town I don’t get the chance to see a lot of them anymore but many of us still chat and catch up when we have the time.   STP: Who was your favorite Pistons player and why? Rous: I wouldn’t say that I have a favorite. I would say that I have earned respect for a group of guys that battled through the tough times in our organization for a number of years when winning didn’t come easy and stuck it through to see a championship in the end. Trent Genyk, Dan Taillefer, Justin Augert along with a bunch of twenty year olds that aged out before our championship run, are a few that I will always remember.   STP: What are your most memorable on ice moments with the Pistons? Rous: My most memorable moment as a piston was game 6 in Steinbach with a packed barn and winning the MJHL championship. Nothing could have been sweeter in my final year than going out on top.   STP: What are your most memorable off-ice moments with the Pistons? Rous: The best moments off the ice were always hanging out with your teammates, whether it was celebrating after a win or relaxing with the boys. You'll never forget those moments.   STP: What advice would you give to future players wanting to play in Steinbach? Rous: The advice I think I'd give to any guy going through the Steinbach organization would be don’t take anything for granted.  This franchise has worked extremely hard to become what it is today and if you get the honor to wear that jersey, you give it your all, on or off the ice and you'll see, it'll repay you by making you the player and person you want to be.   STP: How did your time with the pistons get you to where you are today? Rous: I think my time with the Pistons helped me along my path by providing me with a strong work ethic, leadership skills and an attitude that doesn’t quit when situations get difficult. 

For many young hockey players looking to play at the junior level, leaving home and moving in with a new family can be a very big adjustment. Billet families accepting young men into their homes also experience these changes, with those players becoming big commitments in their lives.   The importance of billets, however, is undeniable as they play a life long role in the development and maturity of players. The Steinbach Pistons recruit players from all around the country and south of the border to play hockey, and like so many other Junior A hockey programs, the Pistons rely heavily on their billet community. One such billet family are the Loewens. Alysia and Colin have been billeting Pistons players for the past three years. This past year, the family billeted goaltender Roman Bengert and forward Jack Johnson. Alysia and her family always entertained the notion of one day billeting a Pistons player, but it was a comment from a friend that made her and her husband decide to start billeting. “We had one person make a comment to us about thinking ahead to if our kids would need to billet one day. What kind of home would we want them to stay in? Well we would want for them what we have here at home.”  “We would want that family oriented home, where everyone would be together, doing things together,” explains Alysia. “We would want that for our kids and chances are there are other people out there who are wanting the same thing for their kids as well.” Billet families like the Loewens are the strong foundational support that Junior A players need when continuing their hockey careers far from home. They play an essential role in providing players a place to escape from the rink where they feel comfortable and at home. “We have found it to be an extremely rewarding, positive experience for our entire family,” continues Alysia. “Our kids look forward to having the players come to our home. They play floor hockey in the basement together and play hockey on the outdoor rink. The relationships between our children and the players last a very long time.” The relationships created through billeting are the biggest takeaways for billets and players, as their relationships remain close. The Loewens were able to reconnect with one of their former billets, Cole Smith, now a member of the University of North Dakota’s Men’s Hockey team, this summer. “Cole Smith was our first player that we had, and just over the May long weekend, both our families got together and spent time with each other,” Alysia added. For families who are interested in billeting but aren’t quite sure if they should, Alysia’s advice would be to go for it! “If you’re willing to sacrifice some of your own space, time and things to invest in someone else’s life, those kind of investments will find you far greater satisfaction than living your own.” “That’s a message that we try to pass on to our children too,” she said. “When you invest your love, time and energy into others, it is far more rewarding than living life selfishly.” The Pistons have been very fortunate to have such a strong billet community that cares deeply about our players well being. We would like to thank all our billets for the amazing support that they provide our organization and players. The Pistons are always looking to add more families to our billet community. If you and your family are interested, contact Pistons Billet Coordinator Janice Fender at 204-326-4878 or 204-392-5309 for more information.

The upgrades to the T.G. Smith Centre are coming in nicely as crews are in the process of installing new LED Lights.  Just take a look at that lighting difference! Once the lights are installed, crews will then begin to put up a new roof cover.  Fans will be able to see the Pistons better than ever before come the team's home opener in September.

For many 15-year-old Manitoban hockey players, the MJHL Draft can be a time of excitement and nervousness. After a grueling season with countless hours on the road and in rinks, players follow the draft meticulously to see if they have been chosen by one of the eleven Manitoba Junior teams. Landon Roberts, the Steinbach Pistons 11th overall pick in this years MJHL Draft, was honored to hear that he had been drafted by Steinbach. “I had just come in from working outside, when my dad handed me the phone. My mom called to let me know that I had been drafted by Steinbach 11th overall.”            Roberts who plays a two-way, physical game, was exactly what the Pistons scouting staff was looking for in this year’s MJHL Draft. “I am a hardworking, explosive power forward that plays a full 200 foot game,” explains the 6’0”, 170 lbs 15 year-old. “I am a strong, efficient skater who uses my physicality to battle on the boards and protect my team mates.”           Roberts played for the Southwest Cougars Bantam AAA team this past year where he posted 25 goals, and 27 assists for 52 points in 31 games. Despite having a strong individual year, Roberts and his team didn’t finish the year as they hoped. However, the product of Souris, Manitoba believes that he learned a lot and that his experiences will help him moving forward. “My AAA Bantam season may not have garnered the results we, the team, wanted, but we played well and made a lot of progress as the season went on. I gained a lot of valuable experience being captain of the team, which I hope to bring to the Pistons someday.” As a result of his play, Roberts was also drafted by the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey league with the 129th pick in the 6th round. Although Roberts is from the western side of the province, he has been to Steinbach and is familiar with the area. “I played in the Hockey Provincials my minor bantam year, as well as the Manitoba Summer Games in Steinbach.  I enjoyed my time in Steinbach and it seems like a welcoming community.” As for his bright future, Roberts is committed to pursing his hockey career as far as it will take him while also focusing on his academic studies. “Education is important to me, and is my top priority. I aspire to be able to play hockey at the highest level possible, taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I am willing to pursue my education while playing hockey but I am not opposed to delaying my post-secondary education to pursue my hockey goals.” The Steinbach Pistons would like to congratulate Landon for being chosen by the organization and would like to welcome him and his family to the Pistons community. 

The Steinbach Pistons were able to recently connect with alumni Tyler Penner who is back home for the summer after completing his freshman year at Colgate University. The product of Winnipeg played hockey for the schools Division One program where he tallied 3 points in 31 games. During his Pistons Career, Penner was a dominant force on the ice, as he was offensively gifted but played a very strong defensive game as well. Penner’s time with the Pistons began when the team called him up for one game in the 2012-13 regular season. After finishing the season with the Winnipeg Thrashers in Midget AAA, Penner joined the Pistons for the team’s first berth in the MJHL playoffs since it’s relocation to Steinbach. Although only having one game of junior experience under his belt, Penner was one of the most consistent players during the playoffs and eventually helped the under-dog Pistons win their first MJHL Championship that year. Penner went on to compete with the Pistons in the Inaugural Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo, British Columbia. In the following three years with the Pistons, Penner emerged as one of the top forwards in the league. He helped the Pistons to very strong Regular Season and Playoff showings. As a result of his consistent play and strong character, Penner was awarded the Pistons captaincy in the 2015-16 season. Penner was also dedicated to furthering his education, as he took courses at the University of Manitoba during his time with the Pistons. Penner was rewarded for his efforts on and off the ice when he committed to Colgate University, a Patriot League Division One program. Penner finished his junior career among the top of many all-time Pistons offensive categories. Penner ranked 9th in games played with 168, 3rd in goals with 79, 5th in assists with 77 and 4th in points with 156. In 51 total playoff games, Penner contributed 11 goals and 23 points. Penner was awarded many league accomplishments during his Pistons career including an MJHL Championship, Player of the Month award for November in the 2014-15 season and Second All-Star Team nominations in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.   The following is Tyler Penner’s Q and A   STP: What are you doing in life these days? Penner: I am currently playing hockey at Colgate University and I just finished my freshman year. I am still trying to figure out exactly what I want to major in so at the moment I’ve taken an array of different courses.   STP: What are your plans for the future? Penner: I would love to play hockey as long as I can. I am looking forward to three more years at University but once my career with Colgate has come to an end, I would love to continue my hockey career, whether that is in North America or overseas. As for the academic side, I am still in the process of deciding what major to pursue. I am in between Economics and Psychology at the moment however that could still change as I explore my options.   STP: Do you still follow the team during the season? Penner: Yes, I definitely follow the team throughout the year. It is always nice to check the scores and see how the guys have been doing. I still have a bunch of close friends that are on the team so it is nice to see how they and the team are doing. I also keep in contact with Paul as well just to touch base on how things are going.   STP: Do you still connect with any of your former pistons teammates? Penner: I try to keep in touch with as many of my teammates as I can. Whether it’s a simple text or a facetime, it’s always nice to hear from them.  And even if I haven’t talked to one of them in a while, when you meet up, you start back up at the same place you left off and it’s as if there was no time apart.   STP: Who was your favorite Pistons player and why? Penner: This is a tough question to answer seeing as each teammate was different and they all had different impacts on me. However if I had to pick one, it would be Dan Taillefer. He was my teammate the whole time that I was in Steinbach and we became great friends. He was a tremendous hockey player and my line mate for my last two years in Steinbach and I believe his play helped me get to where I am today. Also when you have the nickname “Mr. All-time” it definitely helps.   STP: What are your most memorable on ice moments with the Pistons? Penner: The most memorable moment on the ice with the Pistons has to be when I was able to play in the playoffs when I was 17 and win the MJHL championship. That is something I will never forget. Another great moment for me was in my final season when all the graduating players were honored at center ice. It was weird to think that it would be the last time I’d play with all of them but it also reinforced how great of players they were and how I was lucky to experience it all.   STP: What are your most memorable off-ice moments with the Pistons? Penner: There are so many that it is hard to keep track of. Could start with the long road trips up to OCN where you really get to know each other while you’re stuck on a bus for 8 hours. Getting to know my billet family, the Lazaruks, and spending time with them was very special as well. The things I won’t forget though are just the nights where all the guys got together and we just messed around. Whether it was playing baseball, going for a swim or watching the bachelor with 23 other guys, they are memories I’ll have forever.   STP: What advice would you give to future players wanting to play in Steinbach? Penner: Playing in Steinbach was one of the best things that has happened to me. Take advantage of your time there and make memories. Be prepared to work hard and have the expectation to continue having the success the organization has had in the past.   STP: How did your time with the Pistons get you to where you are today? Penner: Without playing for Steinbach I don’t know where I’d be in my hockey career. It prepared me and gave me the exposure necessary to allow me to continue my hockey career. Steinbach also helped to shape me into the person that I am today through my teammates, coaches, billets, and the fans around town.   Stayed tuned for the next Pistons Alumni Update featuring Kyle Rous