We thought we ’ d impact the league this year having a more veteran team but we lost a lot of one-goal games this season and endured a lot of injuries
school at the same time . That ’ s because the Riels ’ leaders also happen to be brilliant students . Giesbrecht is a business undergraduate at the University of Manitoba ’ s Asper School of Business who eventually wants to be a CPA . Eastman will graduate from Manitoba next year with a degree in physiology and hopes to get into med school at the U of M . While they love to play the game , a long career in the NHL is not in either one of their plans .
“ I ’ d like to become a doctor and possibly an oncologist ,” said Eastman . “ My grandmother Deanna Eastman died of colon cancer and my girlfriend ’ s grandfather has cancer and her grandmother died of the disease . For me , patient care is important .” Both players were five-year MMJHL vets who just completed their junior careers . Each one played more than 200 games for the Riels . They won an MMJHL championship two years ago and both will tell you that that win , on home ice , was their greatest hockey memory . Giesbrecht started playing hockey at age four and with the Norwood Tigers . He played 8A1 through 10A1 with the St Boniface Stars out of Notre Dame Community Centre and then , at 11 and 12 , he was with the Double A Rail Cats . From 13-16 he played with the Winnipeg Warriors and finally from 17 to now with the Riels .
Known as “ The Assist Machine ,” he finished second in league scoring despite notching only 12 goals . His 60 assists were 12 ahead of the No . 2 man in assists in the league , Zach Heisinger . Eastman is a power forward and a shooter and considers himself “ a Blake Wheeler type of player .” He started playing hockey in Transcona at age six then went on to play 8A1 to 10A1 with the Lakers . He moved up to 11A1 and 12A1 with the St . Boniface Seals and then played Double A with the City Midget AAA Winnipeg Warriors . Like Giesbrecht , he joined the Riels at 17 and has played his entire five-year junior career in St . Boniface . This year , Eastman finished ninth in league scoring and has a twin brother , Triston , who just finished his second season with the Riels
CHRISTMAS EDITION GAME ON 27