The Steinbach Pistons put up 14 combined goals over two games and picked up wins over the Swan Valley Stampeders and the Dauphin Kings over the weekend at the TG Smith.

Swan Song

In what could very easily be a first-round playoff matchup, the Pistons flexed their depth as six different players scored in a 7-3 win Friday night.

In a game that lacked a bit of emotion, started off a bit slow for both teams but picked up when Daniel McKitrick (23) scored on the power play to make it 1-0 Steinbach. Mark Wilson had the assist on the opening goal.

In the second, the Pistons lead was extended when Riese Gaber notched his 26th of the year from Declan Graham and Mark Taraschuk, 2-0 Steinbach.

The Stamps got on the board when Quintin Sudom rifled a perfect shot past Matthew Thiessen to cut the lead in half, 2-1.

Steinbach continued to control play for long stretches and eventually was rewarded when Brady Tatro snapped off a beauty wrist-shot for his 18th of the year from Taraschuk and Graham, restoring Steinbach's two-goal lead, 3-1. 

Jack Johnson continued his strong play of late by scoring his 12th to make it 4-1. Wilson's second assist of the night was the only helper on the goal.

Before the period was through, Austin Heidemann sniped his 22nd of the year to make it 5-1 Pistons. Darby Gula notched the only assist on the final marker of the second period.

In the third, McKitrick picked up his second of the game and 24th of the year when he tapped home a loose puck to make it 6-1. Bradley Schoonbaert and Heidemann had the assists.

Then, the Pistons let their foot off the gas peddle and Swan took advantage. 

Two quick goals by Daniel Chartrand had Swan right back in the game 6-3.

The Pistons pushed back and Easton Bennett scored his 12th from Jaret Lalli as the Pistons hit the 7 goal plateau again this season leading 7-3.

No more goal scoring in the game as it ended with a Pistons win.

Thiessen played well making 27 saves on the night. The power play cashed in 1/3 while the penalty kill was 4/4.

With the win, the Pistons streak of points in consecutive games hit 16 straight games.

Super Kooper

It was a dominating performance from the line of Will Koop, Jack Johnson and Riese Gaber as the trio combined for 11 points in a 7-2 win over the Dauphin Kings Saturday night.

It wasn't the start the Pistons wanted. While on the penalty kill, they surrendered the opening goal to Brendan Arnold, 1-0 Dauphin.

Pistons got back on even ground on their own power play as Bradley Schoonbaert picked up his 36th goal, setting a new Steinbach Pistons record for goals in a season and tieing the game 1-1. Mark Taraschuk had the lone assist giving the defenseman 3 points in his last two games and 6 points over his last 5 games.

Koop started off his epic night just 17 seconds later as he scored his 24th of the year from Jack Johnson and Mark Wilson, 2-1 Pistons.

In the second, near the midway point, Koop struck again as he put a perfect shot short side for his second of the game from Johnson and Riese Gaber, 3-1 Steinbach.

Three goals happened in a span of 1:04 as the lead swelled up to 6-1.

Brendan Martin (16) cashed in off a perfect pass from Daniel McKitrick and Riese Gaber.

Easton Bennett hammered home his second goal in as many games, giving the forward 13 on the year from Brady Tatro and Tanner Mole.

Finally, it was Koop getting his hat-trick goal as he deflected a Declan Graham slap-pass off his skate and in. Johnson added another assist on the final goal of the period. 

In the third, the Kings picked up another goal on the power play as Kyle Oleksiuk scored on a two-man advantage to make it a 6-2 hockey game.

Steinbach's Koop scored his 4th of the game, 27th of the year with just 28 seconds left to give Steinbach 7 goals in consecutive home games. Johnson capped off a 4 point night with an assist while Gaber picked up his 3rd point with a helper as well.

Matthew Thiessen made a couple of tricky saves and again picked up the win stopping 22 shots on the night. The power play was 1/3 while the penalty kill finished 5/7.

It was the first time Will Koop scored four goals in a game and the second time this year the Pistons have had a player hit the 4 goal plateau. Captain Braden Purtill hit that mark earlier in the season.

Up Next

With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Pistons will welcome in the Portage Terriers on Wednesday night before finishing up the regular schedule on the road against the Winkler Flyers on March 2nd. Both games will be on Mix 96 and SteinbachOnline.com

And The Award(s) Go To...

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League handed out their yearly awards the Steinbach Pistons success on the ice translated into success in the awards as Paul Dyck, Darby Gula and Drew Worrad were all named winners of their respective categories. 

Dyck was named the MJHL's Coach of the Year for a second consecutive year. Dyck currently has led his team to an impressive 46-8-2-2 record and again remains one of the top junior programs in all of Canada.

In his 19-year-old season, Gula has impressed from start to finish putting up impressive numbers (14 goals, 47 assists for 61 points in 54 games) and sits 14th in league scoring. His attention to the defensive side of the game has made him a complete player and helped him earn a scholarship to Bemidji State University. 

In his first season with the Pistons, Worrad has taken a leadership role on the ice, in the locker room and in the community and he was recognized as the winner of the Frank McKinnon Memorial Trophy for exemplifying Hockey Ability & Sportsmanship.

The 20-year-old from Ontario 75 points in just 47 games, sitting 5th in league scoring despite playing 10 fewer games than those around him. As well as Worrad has performed in games, it's his work in the community of Steinbach that has truly been special. Worrad has accumulated only 14 penalty minutes this season. 

The Pistons also had several players named to the MJHL 1st and Rookie All-Star teams respectively. 

League scoring leader Bradley Schoonbaert along with Worrad, Gula and goalie Matthew Thiessen were named 1st team All-Stars.

Thiessen and first-year teammate Austin Heidemann were named Rookie All-Stars.