As history has told us, the battle for the ANAVET Cup is a hotly contested, inter-provincial rivalry. 2018 has proven now different with Steinbach Pistons and Nipawin Hawks deadlocked at two wins apiece in their best-of-seven series. Game 5 goes Friday night (May 4) in Nipawin, before returning to Steinbach for Games 6 and 7 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
“Nipawin has a very skilled, hard-working team,” Pistons’ GM/Head Coach Paul Dyck said. “Their rink is a hard place to play; the fans are really into it and loud.”
This is the Pistons first ANAVET Cup series. When they last won the MJHL in 2013 they advanced to the Western Canada Cup where two teams advanced to the national championship: RBC Cup. Such isn’t the case this year with the WCC concept disbanded. Nipwin advanced to the ANAVET after defeating Estevan Bruins in the SJHL final.
Dyck acknowledges that his team is very aware of what is at stake: a trip to the RBC.
“The games have been very tight for the most part,” he said.
