Wasik’s career reborn between pipes of MJHL champion Pistons

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This article was published 01/05/2023 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dominik Wasik is a prime example of how one move can transform a career.

In September, his season was going nowhere after being released by the North American Hockey League’s Johnstown Tomahawks. Seven months later, after playing 18 consecutive playoff games for Steinbach, the 20-year-old from Superior, Colo., is leading the MJHL champion Pistons to an appearance at the Centennial Cup national junior A championship in Portage la Prairie.

On Saturday night, 6-2, 170-pounder stopped 24 shots in a 3-0 Game 5 victory over the Virden Oil Capitals. It was his third shutout in the best-of-seven final and the triumph clinched Steinbach’s first league title since 2017-18.

“When I got released from Johnstown I was pretty devastated,” said Wasik by phone Monday. “I was in my last year (of junior), right? I’m 20 years old and my goal has always been to play D-1 hockey and go play in college. I think it was honestly on that drive to Steinbach that I decided to go for it the best I can. It was my last shot.”

Wasik had plenty of time to think on the trek from Johnstown to Steinbach, taking two days and 23 hours of driving time to make the connection. It’s a move he won’t regret.

Pistons GM and head coach Paul Dyck, wanting to shore up his situation in net, gave Wasik an opportunity on the recommendation of Seattle Kraken goaltending coach Steve Briere. In previous seasons, Briere guided future goaltending stars such as Nick Deery, Matt Lenz and Roman Bengert to the Pistons.

“I didn’t know anything (about Steinbach),” said Wasik. “I was kind of trusting the people that I know and Steve Briere said it’s a great spot, it’s a small town and so the fan base is super supportive here and it was kind of similar, he said, to Aberdeen (in the NAHL), which was the first junior team I played for.

“And he was right. It’s an awesome town. Great, great fans. Great coaching staff. You get treated very well here so I was lucky. It ended up being a great spot for me.”

Briere, a former Winnipegger who played briefly with Dyck in the AHL, has a keen eye for talent.

“We’ve had a great relationship and I certainly trusted his opinion on Dom and then we brought him in and it’s just been a great fit,” said Dyck. “He and Cole Plowman were just a tremendous duo for us during the regular season and obviously the rest is kind of history here in the playoffs, the way Dom played for us.”

Wasik, who led the MJHL playoffs with 12 wins, a 2.55 goals-against average and .921 save percentage, had plenty of help. A rock-solid defence, scoring leader Ty Paisley’s 29 points and 16 points from post-season MVP Dawson Milliken, were a lethal combination. The Pistons went to seven games in the opening round before eliminating the Winkler Flyers.

“It’s definitely it’s a reflection of the whole team, right?” said Wasik. “The boys played incredible in front of me, they were keeping (the opponent) to the outside, not giving up too many odd-man rushes and really helping you with blocking shots. So it definitely wasn’t just me. It was as a reflection of the whole team and I think we grew so much throughout the playoffs, especially that first round against Winkler. We were really tested.”

The Pistons took a well-earned day off Monday before returning to practice on Wednesday in Niverville. Work crews were preparing the club’s ancient home — T.G. Smith Centre — for demolition with construction due to begin on the Southeast Event Centre.

The new facility will not be ready until the start of 2024-25 and the Pistons are expected to relocate to the Hylife Centre in nearby La Broquerie for next season.

Dyck’s more immediate concern is getting his team ready for the Centennial Cup, slated for May 11-21 at Stride Place.

“Someone asked if we’re healthy and I said, ‘Well, healthy? No.’ Is everybody in the lineup? ‘Yes. But everybody playing at this stage after three rounds of playoffs, there’s something that’s bothering them,’” said Dyck.

“If it’s a bad back or groin or hips or shoulders. We’ve got a guy playing with with a broken bone. Unfortunately, we did suffer one injury in Game 5. We lost (forward) Leo Chambers with a broken collarbone for the rest of the year. So that’s a big loss.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca