Piston’s standout during MJ/SJ Showcase – SteinbachOnline.com

The Steinbach Pistons sent a number of players to the MJHL/SJHL Showcase held in Winnipeg earlier in the week.

Steinbach was originally supposed to send 11 players but one had to drop out through injury.

Among the players who left were forwards Dawson Milliken, Landon Roberts, Davis Fry, Travis Hensrud, Ian Amsbaugh, Nick Mikan and Leo Chambers. Defenders Warren Clark and Noah Szabo and goalkeeper Dominik Wasik. Also, head coach Paul Dyck sat behind the bench for the MJHL U18 team. Ty Paisley was due to leave but did not take part due to injury.

Here’s a look at how each Piston player fared across the two games.

Team MJHL 20U Black

20-year-old Dawson Milliken – Milliken put in maximum effort every shift he’s been on the ice. He passed opponents up and down the ice. Through his zeal and zeal, he earned himself a few scoring chances. He fell into a leadership role and set a good example. When times got tough for his team, his drive and level of performance really stood out. There are a number of programs that would be lucky to have him.

19-year-old Davis Fry – Fry showed more sharpness in his game as the physicality really increased over the course of both games. He managed to score but didn’t shy away from throwing the body around. Every time he got the puck in the offensive zone, he felt like something positive was about to happen. He could have potted a few more, but overall a really good performance for the Mercyhurst commit.

Team MJHL 20U Red

20-year-old Landon Roberts – Every time Roberts touched the ice, the SJHL knew about it. Immediately establishing himself as a physical force, Roberts put down a string of bone-rattling hits, one of which resulted in a goal. On the bench, his leadership skills and personality really came into their own as you could see him supporting his teammates and hear him encouraging his boys during games. Off the ice, Roberts also received praise for his humor, friendliness and professionalism, proving that character goes as far off the ice as what a player can do on the ice.

20-year-old Ian Amsbaugh – When Amsbaugh touched the puck, there was no doubt that something magical could happen. Despite being surrounded by some of the best players from both provinces, Amsbaugh slowed the game down and showed his superb vision. He helped generate chances down his lines while not forgetting his defensive responsibilities. For someone who smiles a lot anyway, there were plenty of good reasons for Amsbaugh to smile broadly thanks to his work above the showcase.

20-year-old Travis Hensrud – If there was one dedicated player who benefited the most from the showcase, it was Hensrud, who cemented himself as an MJHL MVP candidate. He never stopped working up and down the ice. He enraged the SJHL when they tried their best to stop him, and even when he got hit, he immediately jumped back up and kept going. He scored and caused offense, but what impressed most was his non-stop work. He went into a familiar commodity but came out as one of the most respected players in the event.

20-year-old Dominik Wasik – Just like he has been doing all year, he just quietly went about his business and got the job done. With every shot that went his way, it felt like he could stop. He was so well positioned and so calm that many viewers who had never seen him before were blown away. Just like he has done all year, he fought and gave his team a chance to find a way to win the game. He was the backbone of his club and one of the main reasons they won the second game of their tournament.

19-year-old Leo Chambers – Both leagues have learned what many in Steinbach have known for a long time, Leo Chambers is something special. The way he moved around the ice, always in good position, ready to throw his weight around, set up a teammate for a pass or be in a dangerous shooting position was obvious. Chambers did what his linemates asked of him and proved to be a Swiss army knife, ready and able to be whatever his team needed in the moment. He should come out of the event with a lot of confidence and be proud of what he has accomplished. He will break the heart of a number of schools who won’t get him when deciding where he wants to play in the future.

U18 Team White

18-year-old Noah Szabo – Fantastic performance by Szabo. He was all over the ice, making great reads, jumping or tweaking at the right moment, shooting on goal and defending his circle as the SJHL tried to hit the net. Perhaps the biggest takeaway was his skating. With so much talent on the ice, Szabo really stood out with his quick feet and showing off his ever-developing hockey IQ with some well-timed poke checks. All in all, a fantastic two days for the Ontario boy and he returns to Steinbach arguably one of the top two defenders throughout the tournament.

18-year-old Warren Clark – Clark showed what makes him elite but also added a little sandpaper to his game that really stood out. The hefty defender has always been known as a rising star, but in those two games he proved he can also be a physical force. A few times he would step forward to take a few hits and make the boys fall back when he lurked. The offense was difficult for the entire team to master, but when Clark got a chance, he showed off his elite hands and edges and created space for himself. St. Cloud will be very happy with what they’ve seen from the defender who continues to grow and enrich his game.

18-year-old Nick Mikan – Everyone smiles from the ice, Mikan added a lot of growls to his game over the two days. Mikan took a page from Landon Roberts’ playbook and added great physicality to his game, which showed in the respect he earned from other players on the ice. He wasn’t afraid to lean on guys or even lay the big hit. Once he had the puck, he exploded with a burst of speed that meant defenders had to be perfect to stop him. His drive and work ethic will make St. Thomas and the Steinbach Pistons very proud.

head coach Paul Dyck – He wasn’t just there to be seen, he had to coach something. In the first game, he got his team to get out of what wasn’t working and into a dump/chase/drive mentality that put his team back in the game and gave them a chance to win. He even drew the keeper for an extra attacker and pushed to tie the game late. There wasn’t much to point out in the second game as things moved quite quickly, but the only sticking point was to point out to the officials that a faceoff that was originally supposed to take place outside the offensive zone should take place on the inside left of the goalkeeper. Dyck and the staff won the argument and got the allusion location they wanted. Punches all around.