Photo: Erica Perreaux/Hockey Canada Images
Portage la Prairie, MB – The Steinbach Pistons beat the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the SIJHL Sunday evening at Stride Place by a score of 5-2. This victory marked the first Centennial Cup win in the Steinbach Pistons history.
The Pistons opened the scoring at the 5:07 mark of the first period. Neo Kiemeney shovelled the puck on net with Nick Mikan finding the rebound and potting the puck to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later the Fighting Walleye would find the equalizer to make it 1-1. Ryan Doucette got the puck to Jack Cook who then utilized a Pistons defensive miscommunication, walking in and wiring the puck top corner past Wasik.
Steinbach would bounce right back, restoring the one goal lead 16-seconds later. Brett Kaiser found a loose puck out front and tapped it over the pad of Eric Vanska to make it 2-1.
Steinbach would go to the powerplay just over midway through the first period, but they would not be able to capitalize on the opportunity and head into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The Pistons powerplay would get some work in the second period as they would go to the man advantage three times in a row in middle frame. The Pistons first two powerplays would not generate any scoring but they would be awarded a 4-minute powerplay with just over a minute remaining in the second period where they would do some damage.
Eight seconds into the four-minute powerplay the Pistons would make it 3-1. Travis Hensrud would wrist a shot on net from the high slot with Landon Roberts tipping it in front and past Vanska.
Steinbach would have just over a minute remaining on the powerplay to start the third period. In the dying seconds of the powerplay, the Pistons would make it 4-1 with a Ty Paisley powerplay goal. Ian Amsbaugh tried to put the puck on net with the puck ricocheting to Ty Paisley on the doorstep who would then tap it home.
At the 13:44 mark of the final frame the Pistons would extend the lead to 5-1. Ian Amsbaugh would enter the Fighting Walleye zone, shooting the puck on net that would first deflect off a Kam River defenseman’s leg and go top corner over the glove of Vanska.
With just under a minute and a half remaining in the game the Fighting Walleye would make it 5-2. A pass from Euan Morrison would find a cutting Ethan Lang who would then flip the puck between the arms of Wasik with a Pistons defenceman trying to tie him up.
The Pistons would close out the 5-2 victory to set them up with a potential do or die game against the Battlefords North Stars on Tuesday night.
