An exciting weekend for the Pistons as they won 4-3 against the Dauphin Kings on Friday and 3-1 over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Saturday, making it their 7th win in a row.
Head Coach and General Manager, Paul Dyck also celebrated his 700th game behind the Pistons bench on Saturday.
“I was just addressing the team and Graham (Pollock) walked into the room rather hastily it looked like, and I think he wanted to get down there while I was still addressing the players, and he injected by saying that it was my 700th game. So, it completely caught me off guard, I didn't know that I was that old.”
After a win, the Pistons tradition is to award a ‘Player of the Game’ with a wooden spoon, and captain Noah Szabo presented it to Dyck.
“Usually, it's a player that's played a role in the in the game and in a win. It's a fun little tradition, it's been going on around there now for a few years. The spoon is looking fairly weathered, but it's one of those things that I think the boys, when they do receive it, they're proud to do so.”
Dyck has been able to create long-lasting relationships with players and says he feels honoured when players want to connect after they have moved on from the Pistons program.
He shares that watching the players grow is rewarding.
“Over the last 12 years, I think our players have had a tremendous impact, not only on the ice but off the ice in our community. And I have seen guys that have grown both into professional hockey players and professionals in different sectors. We have a couple of players that are now doctors. And it's really neat. We really stressed that off-ice development and to see it come to fruition over the years is very rewarding.”
The Pistons use three keywords in the locker room and a lot of players carry them into their next steps in life.
“Character, leadership, and integrity. They're up there, I don't think we forget about them and they're in a pretty prominent position. Early on, they understand those are part of the expectations on how we conduct ourselves and how we live and that's as hockey players, but it's also more importantly as people.”
After 700 games, Dyck shares that one of the most memorable was when they won their first championship in Steinbach.
“Game 6 vs. Dauphin, the last couple of minutes of that game just seemed to go on forever, it felt like 700 games. But it was one that really propelled our organization, I think. Our expectations changed from that point forward and obviously helped us with recruiting, our profile changed within our province and then it really just got us to where we wanted to go a little quicker. It was just a magical moment. That one and then the last game in the old Centennial Arena, I think that that's one that's going to be very memorable for me.”
The Pistons prepare for their game on Friday against the Winnipeg Freeze.
Cheer them on at the Hylife Centre, puck drop is at 7 pm.
With files from Dave Anthony
