Pistons set to embrace La Broquerie this season

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This article was published 28/08/2023 (541 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While it doesn’t feel like home yet, the Steinbach Pistons are well on their way to settling into their new digs in La Broquerie.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League team will be playing all of their regular season home games in La Broquerie at the HyLife Centre, and have been moving their locker room 15 minutes down the road throughout the summer.

“The community has been really receptive,” team sales and marketing director Jamie Roy said.

Roy recalled how when they were in the process of unloading a particularly heavy set of items, members of the Carillon Sultans baseball team, which practice on a field right next door, were eager to lend a hand.

Head coach and general manager Paul Dyck has also been heavily involved in the move, not letting his status as the franchise’s hockey operations leader stop him from getting his hands dirty. Roy also noted Paul’s brother Russ Dyck and Colin Loewen have been standout helpers throughout the moving process, even as many people have assisted throughout the move.

Roy said setting up shop in La Broquerie is a great opportunity for the Pistons, who have drawn great success both on and off the ice inside the community.

The Pistons’ first championship team had two excellent players from La Broquerie as major contributors, as Dan Taillefer and Justin Baudry both played on the winning team. Justin’s brother Colin soon followed to Steinbach, with the two even playing together for a couple seasons.

Off the ice, many La Broquerie business have been long time sponsors for the Pistons, including HyLife itself.

“We’re looking at this as an opportunity to make some new fans, and really get connected with another community and transfer that energy to the new event centre,” Roy said.

In recognition of their season in La Broquerie, the Pistons are planning a La Broquerie Habs jersey night, with a specially designed jersey incorporating elements from both the Pistons and the local team.

Steinbach’s MJHL team couldn’t have picked a better year to make the temporary move, as the Habs are celebrating their 75th anniversary this season.

“It’s a way to mark our season there, especially appreciation to the community,” Roy said on the jersey.

“I know we won’t be able to compete with the Habs themselves, but we hope (the community) embraces us just as much. (The jersey) is our token of appreciation for allowing us into their community.”

The date for Habs night has yet to be set, but Roy guessed it will happen in the latter-half of the season.

Most of the hard work actually moving the stalls, flooring, furniture and equipment into the building has been completed, but now the team is beginning the process of organizing the space into an efficient hive for junior hockey.

Roy said the team is hoping to host an open house before the beginning of the year to give fans a chance to see what their temporary home will look like.

Hockey season is right around the corner for Roy and the Pistons, as players are slowly trickling into Steinbach this week. The team hosted their annual golf tournament Aug. 23, before beginning their power camp Aug. 28.

“It’s as if the guys just left,” Roy said.

“Once August long (weekend) comes and goes, it becomes very real for us… It really comes along fast.”

La Broquerie Pistons fans will have to wait a little longer to see the team in action, as Steinbach is set to play their pre-season schedule inside the T.G. Smith Arena, as ice is installed earlier there.

While Roy wasn’t sure how in demand tickets will be, he is advising fans to lock up any single-game seating as early as possible this season. The HyLife Centre only holds 379 people in the bleachers, with standing room expanding that number to roughly 500. The lounge above the ice could seat an additional section of people.

“If you want a ticket to a game, you’ll have to act on it quickly,” Roy said.

“There will be tickets for sure, especially in the T&T lounge… in the arena itself, by the time we go through our season ticket drive and our sponsors, there won’t be a ton of seats in the bleachers.”

The Pistons led the league in attendance last season, averaging over 900 fans a game.

The HyLife Centre should be packed for the Pistons’ home opener weekend, as the team is hosting a couple of fan-favourite opponents in the Portage Terriers (Sept. 28) and Winkler Flyers (Sept. 29).