The Steinbach Pistons head to Niverville tonight to face off against the Nighthawks at the Niverville Recreation Centre.
The Pistons currently sit atop the MJHL with 46 points which is a 4-point cushion over the second place Portage Terriers. Steinbach continues to play some dominant hockey as they have now won 8-straight games. Over that span the Pistons are outscoring their opponents 46-15. Scoring has been a strong point for the Pistons as they have three players (Davis Fry-1st, Ty Paisley-3rd and Travis Hensrud-4th) in the top 5 in MJHL league scoring.
The Nighthawks have had a great season so far for it being their inaugural season as a franchise. The Nighthawks currently sit in a playoff position with 29 points and a 14-11-0-1 record. In their last 8-games the Nighthawks have gone 6-2, with one of those wins coming against the Steinbach Pistons. Josh Paulhus leads the team in scoring with 29 points (13 goals and 16 assists) in 25 games.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PISTONS: PP 33/119 – 27.7% PK 108/125 – 86.4%
NIGHTHAWKS: 28/142 – 19.7% PK 103/127 – 81.1%
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Pistons: Travis Hensrud
Travis Hensrud is currently in 4th in MJHL scoring with 36 points (19 goals and 17 assists) in 24 games. Hensrud is also currently riding a 6-game point streak where he has 8 points (5 goals and 3 assists). Hensrud is a versatile player who plays a fast and shifty game. The Pistons utilize him in all scenarios, with him being high effective and dominant on the penalty kill.
Nighthawks: Bryce Warkentine
Bryce Warkentine currently has 11 points (6 goals and 5 assists) in 9 games. Warkentine played 8-games for the Pistons last season. Warkentine plays a hard and physical game, making sure to always finish his checks. With his physical abilities, Warkentine makes an impact on both sides of the net and is someone to keep your eyes out for.