The Steinbach Pistons are Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions for the second time in team history.

Matthew Thiessen stopped 28 of 29 shots as Steinbach defeated the Virden Oil Capitals 2-1 Saturday night at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.

The Pistons took the best-of seven final four games to two.

The Altona native told Steinbachonline's Dave Anthony he didn’t spend much time watching the clock tick down late in the third period.

“I was just watching the puck in front of me, just making sure everything stays out of the net. Do whatever I can to make sure the puck stayed out of the net.”

“I think I played pretty solid tonight,” added Thiessen who is the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top ranked North American goaltender heading into the 2018 NHL Draft this June according to NHL Central Scouting. “My teammates helped me out clearing the way, making me see pucks and made it really easy for me to control rebounds.”

Thiessen allowed just five goals in the last four games as Steinbach rallied from an 0-2 series deficit.

All the scoring in game six took place in the first period.

Former Pembina Valley Hawks forward Ben Dalke gave the Oil Capitals a 1-0 lead as he scored at 14:18 of the opening frame.

The Pistons answered right back.

Riese Gaber got the equalizer just 36 seconds after Dalke scored and Brendan Martin potted the go-ahead goal 41 seconds later.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions will face either the Nipawin Hawks or Estevan Bruins in the best-of-seven series for the ANAVET Cup.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League final is going the distance after the Bruins blanked the Hawks 4-0 Sunday night in Estevan.

The deciding seventh game goes Tuesday in Nipawin.


photo courtesy Adi Loewen