Different year, same story
It was the same story for the Selkirk Steelers last season who once again came roaring out of the starting gate, only to slowly come back down and miss out on the postseason.
On paper, they had the pieces to contend, but losing a few key guys along with some injuries, or simply failing to take a step forward, the Steelers had to play a spoiler role rather than being a playoff threat.
Last year was a step back from the prior season, finishing with just 20 wins which is their lowest total ever since the MJHL started tracking such stats in 2010-11, outside of the pandemic-shortened season.
Having so much turnover could be a huge benefit to Selkirk, who can get back to what made them so fear-inducing only a few short years ago. Be the team that will outwork their opponents and then take advantage. The key, as always, will be recruiting players who want to be part of a plan that could take a season or two to fully materialize.
New staff bump
News was mostly quiet coming out of the House of Steel, except for two sizeable coaching additions. Josh Green will be joining the bench. “Josh brings a wealth of experience to the organization, including NHL playing experience along with coaching experience at both the WHL and AHL levels,” the statement released by the Steelers said. “His knowledge of the game, leadership, and passion for player development will be a tremendous addition to our program.”
The second big addition comes with another former NHLer, Michael Hutchinson. “The Selkirk Steelers are excited to announce the hiring of Michael Hutchinson as the club’s goaltender coach for the 2026-27 season,” reads a statement that came out from the team. “Following a 15-year pro career, 5 with the Winnipeg Jets and 154 NHL starts, the Steelers are very excited to have Michael on the staff for the coming season.”
While the additions are noteworthy by name, it remains to be seen how much they can help push forward the on ice product. Off the ice is where it could have the biggest impact, as both Green and Hutchinson come in with a lot of respect, and both have had unique journeys that can help players get through any struggles they may be going through.
Having those two talk to players and help them through struggles in hockey or life could play a factor in player retention and recruitment.
2026-27 season outlook
If Selkirk goes 10-0 to start this year, it will hold more weight than it has in years past, and would put the entire league on notice pretty quickly, but that will be an uphill battle, and after the last two seasons, maybe sprinkling in an early season loss isn’t the worst thing just to buck the trend that has come from past winning streaks to start the season.
They’ll be tested early which should force the new, young guys to learn on the job pretty quickly. It’s those kinds of lessons, if they get through it as a team, that can really start to lay down something to build on.
The Steelers are a team with a rich history, and while it’s yet to be determined whether or not they’ll add to that history this year, it could be that first step back toward where they used to be.
