Pistons undergo routine retool

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This article was published 22/09/2020 (1908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STEINBACH — The way head coach Paul Dyck sees it, Ty Naaykens is the kind of player championship teams are built around.

In 2019-20, the veteran left-winger was instrumental in helping the Steinbach Pistons to a regular-season title before the playoffs were abruptly halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the 19-year-old Winnipegger is back — better than ever, says his coach — and they’re plotting another assault on the title.

The Pistons are retooling but under the guidance of Dyck, who also serves as the club’s general manager, it’s pretty routine stuff.

Steinbach, which has reached the league final four times (winning twice) and advanced to the semifinals three other times since 2012-13, is a good bet to be in contention for the Turnbull Cup again this spring.

And the 6-2, 188-pound Naaykens should be driving the offence after registering 23 goals and 55 points in 58 games last season. He sets an example for his teammates.

“He’s willing to do what it takes to get there,” said Dyck. “He’s very intentional with the ice time that he uses. He’s that type of player — it’s fun to have guys like that on the roster. Because it’s just about every day trying to get better.”

More than a year ago, Dyck acquired Naaykens from the Winnipeg Blues in a blockbuster deal involving 10 players. Naaykens excelled on the club’s top line with centre Ryan Butler and right-winger Kyle Bettens.

With Butler moving on to college and Bettens joining the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, Naaykens will be paired with silky smooth centre Matt Osadick, who returns to the MJHL after a season away in the BCHL.

Dyck expects the transition to be fairly seamless.

“He just has an appetite to improve and learn, if it’s watching video or if it’s working on certain skills or game situations after practice,” said Dyck of Naaykens. “He does drills the right way. The effort is there every day. Sometimes you have players that you need to encourage with their work ethic. (Ty) has never been that guy. Watching him over the last year, I’m not surprised he’s taken another step.”

While Osadick has a verbal commitment to attend the University of Maine, Naaykens is also pursuing a U.S. college scholarship. But helping the Pistons to a league title is the prime objective.

“I think that’s the ultimate goal, where I’m looking to be a big piece to this team,” said Naaykens. “We’ve got lots of good players to contribute here and that’s what the goal is for these (20-year-olds) leaving. 

“This is their last year. We want to win, myself included. We want to make it a good year for everyone, we want everyone to compete hard but I also want personal success and to have a good development year.

“I always look to improve on any part of my game I can and that would be a success story.”

A potent second line will consist of Rylan Bettens (Kyle’s brother) and newcomer Caden Triggs centred by overager Codey Behun.

“If you look at our top six, we feel like it should be a productive group and and there’s some experience there. They’re good people who fit well into our culture, so usually that translates into buying into what we’re teaching,” said Dyck. “So we’re going into it with optimism.”

Not all personnel moves have gone smoothly. Dyck had five American players signed for the season, including 19-year-old returning forward Joey Dosan, but pandemic restrictions have kept them at home. 

So what’s the outlook for these players?

“We’re not certain,” said Dyck. “Honestly, it’s out of our hands, right? Those are decisions made by (Canadian Border Services Agency) and we’ve seen a lot of (U.S.) players enter through Alberta, B.C., and there hasn’t been, for whatever reason, (any come to Manitoba). They seem to be having a lot more luck coming through the western provinces. I don’t know why.”

Expect the Pistons to defend well in 2020-21.

On the back end, fourth-year man Curtis Ireland is as steady as they come, towering Christian Riemer will try to build on a sensational post-season, while 16-year-old Denton Mateychuk will serve an MJHL apprenticeship before moving on to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors.

Another ex-WHL blue-liner, Zac Patrick, will start the year in Steinbach although he is scheduled to audition for the Prince Albert Raiders once WHL training camps get underway.

No. 2 goaltender Thomson Phinney returns — the Pistons were his fifth team in two seasons — and it could be his big break after Matt Lenz’s graduation to NCAA Division 1 Mercyhurst.

“He has the ability to be an elite goalie,” said Dyck of Phinney. “He got a number of games last year and bounced around on a few teams. I’m sure he’d like to settle in with one team now and play a good chunk.” 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14