The Steinbach Pistons have swung a deal, adding the SIJHL's Top Defenceman, Evan Kabel, in a trade with the Fort Francis Lakers in exchange for a player development fee.
The 6'2", 190 pound left shot blueliner spent the last two seasons with his hometown Lakers, and Kabel says the trade is a little bitter sweet, but very exciting. "It was so exciting for me, it's a step up, and I'm excited to see how I can challenge myself."
In 2024/25, Kabel put up 7 goals, 25 assists, good for 32 points in 44 games from the backend. "For me personally, the year went pretty well," he says with a humble chuckle. "I won a league award, and that's always nice to have earned that honour. Overall, the team did not bad. It would have been nice to win a few more playoffs games, but I mean, it is what it is, things happen. Personally, I thought I had a good year and I was happy with how I played."
Winning Top Defenceman came as a bit of surprise to the Ontario product. "You never really know, I figured I could be in the running, but it was a surprise to hear that news."
The trade has sunk in for Kabel, who says he's had positive interactions already with his now head coach, Paul Dyck. "I've talked to Paul a bit, he's been very welcoming, and easy to talk to. He's helped me with all the information that I need, lets me know when things are happening, and he's connected me with anyone that I need to talk to. He's been great."
Kabel gives Pistons fans a sense of what kind of player they'll be seeing nightly at the Southeast Event Centre. "I like to think I'm a pretty good two-way defender, good on both sides. I like to make plays with the puck when I can, but also strong defensively. I'd say my strongest suit is skating, and that's what I like to do."
Being a 20-year-old, Kabel says he's learned a lot about being a two-way defender the last couple of years, and his game has grown a lot. "Going from AAA to junior is a switch," he says with a laugh. "I had to learn move pucks faster, transition quicker, and just overall think the game faster. It took a few games, took a little bit to get into, but over the last few years, my game has really developed in the sense of getting faster, and thinking quicker. It's been really good and I have more room to grow."
To be a member of the Steinbach Pistons, it's not just about what happens on the ice, it's also about community, something Kabel is aware of, and excited to be a part of. "It's important. People get out and support Steinbach, so it's important to give back, that's a huge part. I'm really looking forward to being there and being a part of it."
Heading into his final year of junior, Kabel says at the end of the day, it's about being a champion, and he's fired up to be part of a contender. "It's very exciting to me. In Fort Francis, we didn't have bad teams, but we didn't have the success that I would have liked. Stepping into a organization like Steinbach, where they're competitive, and always winning, it's so exciting and I'm looking forward to it."
It's not just Kabel that's looking forward to the new league and new team, he says his family is also looking forward to being part of the organization. "They're excited. It's a little bitter sweet, a little nervous, but they're excited. They can't wait to come out and watch."
Coming to Steinbach, Kabel jokes that he's kind of happy that his number 18 might be available, but he also knows that the last player to wear it, Brayden Barnett, has big shoes to fill, both on the ice and in the facial hair department. "If it's available, great. I'm not too superstitious. If it's not there, it's not there, but if it is, that'll be great. I cannot live up to the mustache, but I can hopefully live up to the number."
The Steinbach Pistons have an exhibition game scheduled for Friday, September 19th, in Winkler. They'll have a return match against the Flyers at home on Sunday, the 21st.