DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Response to injuries shows Pistons’ true quality

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I was absolutely shocked when I walked into the HyLife Centre this weekend for a Pistons game and pulled up the projected lineup on my phone.

Somehow, despite both players on the team’s top defense pairing out of the line-up, Steinbach was forced to play a game with seven d-men and 11 forwards. Injuries have devastated the Pistons forward line-up, much in the same way the team’s defense was hampered all of last year.

In that game (a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Blues) two more forwards went down and the team went into Waywayseecappo the next night with only 18 skaters.

Zhenya Miles goes for a hit on a Winnipeg Blues player during a game Dec. 13. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)
Zhenya Miles goes for a hit on a Winnipeg Blues player during a game Dec. 13. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

There was no panic apparent in either game for Steinbach. The team may not have played as well as they would with their offensive stars in the line-up, but the Pistons went about their business, picking up another win over the Wolverines, even as the home team came within one goal of a three-goal comeback.

It’s the sign of an outstanding team they can sustain success when down so many players, and some likely and unlikely players have stepped up in wake of the injuries.

Connor Paranuzzi has been excellent, picking the perfect time to break out of a goal-scoring slump. The defense of the team has chipped in with some timely secondary scoring to make up for the absences. The team’s call-ups have put in good spells as well to fill in key ice time.

The Pistons are truly playing complimentary hockey, much like they did last season with so many defenders going down. In that case, forwards dropped back to play defense, Eric Cote filled in admirably as a call-up and the team leant on players who didn’t get much ice time.

The Pistons have been a historically great team in the MJHL, and runs like this are exactly why. They have every excuse to slow down in the standings, but instead, Paul Dyck has his team humming and taking care of their business despite all the reasons not to.

For more MJHL coverage including game recaps, standings and statistics, be sure to pick up a print edition of The Carillon every week.

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