STEINBACK CLAIMS ANAVET CUP

The MJHL Champion Steinbach Pistons are the winners of the 2018 Anavet Cup, as they edged the SJHL Canalta Cup Champion Nipawin Hawks 2-1 Monday night in Steinbach, closing out the Best-of-Seven series four games to two.

Brady Tatro put the home team ahead just 2:52 into Game 6, but the Hawks pulled even in period two, when Wayde Johannesson struck with 5:50 remaining in the frame.

Bradley Schoonbaert’s third goal of the Anavet put the Pistons ahead at 6:35 of the third, and that would stand as the winner.

Matthew Thiessen stopped 24/25 shots in the victory, going 4-2, 2.47, .904% in the series.  Nipawin’s Declan Hobbs made 31/33 saves in his final game of the season, finishing the Anavet Cup with a record of 2-4, to go with a 3.02 GAA and .902%.

Steinbach moves on to the RBC Cup in Chilliwack, B.C., starting this Saturday.  Their first game is Sunday afternoon against the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild.

(Craig Stein/SJHL.ca)