Game On Magazine 2017 Nov Game On low res | Page 62

As an affiliated player or AP with the Steinbach Hawks, the then 16-year-old was excited about the prospect of being a full-time member of the MJHL team, likely as soon as the following season. For any player with aspirations of continuing at the game’s higher levels, that particular age is a crucial point in his hockey career. For Dyck that chance never came. Following the 1987-88 season the Hawks ceased operations and junior hockey in the Carillon region would eventually enter into an abeyance for more than two decades. Fortunately, other eyes were on Dyck and he quickly found a place to play with the Dauphin Kings. However, it wasn’t home and it wasn’t the way it was supposed to unfold for a youngster chasing his junior hockey dream. “I always thought we were robbed of an opportunity to play at home,” says Dyck looking back. “It forced me and other guys in the area to play elsewhere.” Overall, the junior hockey void in the city didn’t stunt Dyck’s progression as a player. He went on to play major junior in Moose Jaw and enjoyed a solid professional career both across North America and in Europe. After retiring as a player, Dyck returned home to Steinbach to pursue other interests. This included the invention, marketing and sales of a helmet to protect horses post-surgically and for their wear during trailer or airline transport. But with a passion still for the game and the disappointing memory of 6 2 | G AM E ON | N OVEM BER 2017 the MJHL departing in the city in the ‘80s still fresh in his mind, it wasn’t long before the newly-arrived Steinbach Pistons asked him to become involved. At first it was as an assistant coach during the team’s second season of operation, after it had relocated from Beausejour in 2009-10. But with an ownership change within the first two years, Dyck was organizationally elevated and assumed the dual roles of head coach and general manager by 2011. “I truly felt like Steinbach should have a franchise and a successful franchise at that,” he says. “And to get involved hoping to make a difference was definitely intriguing.” Since then, he’s held both positions and guided the franchise to an MJHL title in 2012-13. Moreover, in the past five seasons, Dyck’s Pistons have qualified for the playoffs each year and made two additional appearances in the MJHL finals. To consider him the face of the Pistons’ franchise would probably make the 47-year-old uncomfortable, but if he’s not the face then he’s certainly the most recognizable and perpetual figure with team. In fact, it’s somewhat mayoral in popularity. No doubt, some of the positive notoriety stems from the fact he’s a Steinbach guy as well as the Head Coach/ GM of the local Jr. A team, but a significant part of that popularity is attributable to the success of the team under his tutelage. “When the program really needed somebody he was there,” says Rob Smith, also a Steinbach product, who