As we continue our look at the many moves made by Manitoba Junior Hockey League clubs this offseason, today we head east down Highway 1 to Steinbach and take a look at some of the changes the Pistons have made for the 2019-20 season.
Steinbach finished the season in third place and fell short of defending their MJHL title last season after being eliminated in six games by Swan Valley Stampeders in the semi-finals. The Pistons’ Head Coach and General Manager Paul Dyck pulled off a blockbuster 10-player trade with the Winnipeg Blues this past June, shipping away seven prospects in exchange for three veterans.
The Pistons acquired 19-year-old Codey Behun, 17-year-old Ty Naaykens, and 20-year-old Dylan Cassie from the Blues in exchange for the MJHL Rights to F Logan Danis (’02), F Brayden Clark (’01), D Carter Bateman (’02), D Connor Tyhy (’01), D Austen McIvor (’01), F Aeden Loschiavo (’02), D Tayem Gislason (’03) and future considerations.
After losing nine veterans at the end of the 2018-19 season, Dyck wasted no time trying to replenish the club by addressing leadership, scoring, and solid defending in just one trade.
Behun, who captained the Blues last season, is coming off a season where he set career-highs in goals (19), assists (20), and points (39) and will fill a need at centre for the Pistons.
Naaykens suited up in his first full season with Winnipeg in 2018-19 and finished third on the team in scoring, putting up 40 points, including 15 goals in 55 games.
The Pistons also acquired a seasoned MJHL defenseman in 20-year-old Dylan Cassie. Cassie spent the last three seasons with Winnipeg and is coming off his best offensive season, setting career-highs in goals (7), assists (23) and points (30). Cassie led all Blues defensemen in scoring. In addition to his points, Cassie was relied on to play in all situations whether it was 5-on-5, power play, and shorthanded and no doubt will be relied on heavily as the Pistons look to hoist the Turnbull Cup for the second time in the past three seasons.
The Pistons will open up that quest on September 20 at home against the Winkler Flyers.
Graduated players from last season: Tyson McConnell, Matt Radomsky (Holy Cross), Troy Williams, Easton Bennett, Brendan Martin, Boedey Vaeth, Riley Vautour, Nico Labossiere, and Doug Johnson (Albertus Magnus College).
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