Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 15

M
ark Taraschuk is a guy who has played for two or-
ganizations in the Western Hockey League.
Most people believe, and rightly so, that the
WHL is the “big leagues” of junior hockey. And
while Taraschuk has nothing disparaging to say about either the
Brandon Wheat Kings or the Swift Current Broncos, he has been
overwhelmed by the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach
Pistons.
“It’s a phenomenal organization,” said Taraschuk, without hesita-
tion. “I know we use the term too often, but it really is ‘First Class.’ I
mean everybody in the organization cares about you. And not just
as a player, but as a person, as well. I’ve never played in an organiza-
tion this caring and this classy. I mean it, when I say it’s First Class.”
While Taraschuk, the 19-year-old Winnipegger who helped stabilize
an already strong back end for coach Paul Dyck and his Pistons,
is impressed with the organization off the ice, everybody else has
been impressed with what’s gone on inside the boards this season.
The on-ice product in Steinbach has been electric.
During the past two years the Pistons have gone deep into the
playoffs but they haven’t been able to bring home the one prize
that all teams covet. So after winning the Turnbull Trophy in
2013, they have fallen in the finals to the Portage Terri-
ers in each of the last two seasons.
This season, however, it was the Pistons who en-
tered the post-season as the No. 1 seed and a strong
favourite to win the MJHL title. For Dyck, the team’s
head coach and GM, this is the exact position he
wanted to be in.
“I think the majority of the teams in the league
had the goal to finish first overall,” said Dyck, who
was recently named the MJHL’s Coach of the Year.
It’s a phenomenal organiza-
tion, I know we use the term too
often, but it really is ‘First Class.’
I mean everybody in the organization
cares about you. And not just as a
player, but as a person, as well
“And there’s no question the guys put in a lot of work over the
course of the winter. That said, we only have one goal ahead of us,
and we still have a lot of work to do.”
Finishing second the past two years has made the Pistons hun-
grier for success, and they’re eager to begin their march to their
first league championship since the 2012-13 season.
“We’re trying to focus on the task at hand each game,” said Dyck.
“We know we have to work hard each night for the two points, and
we know nothing is going to be given to us. When we clinched, we
didn’t have a huge celebration – it was rewarding, but the guys un-
derstand there is work to do before we achieve our ultimate goal.”
Regardless, for a star veteran defenseman like Taraschuk, the sea-
son has truly been rewarding. After all, everyone knew the Pistons
STEINBACH
GOALIE
ROMAN
BENGERT
2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
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