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