2013 04 KGpuckdropkings
Kelvin Goertzen (left) Chris Goertzen (right) dropping the puck at the Steinbach Pistons game

Kelvin Goertzen's superstitious ways paid dividends for the Steinbach Pistons and the communities' local food bank.

Goertzen, Steinbach's MLA won a bet with Dauphin's MLA Stan Struthers, sending one hundred dollars to South East Helping Hands.

"When the team started the playoffs against the Portage Terriers the ownership group asked if me and the mayor if we would drop a ceremonial puck," said Goertzen who calls Steinbach home. "When they got to the series against the Kings they asked me and the mayor to drop the puck again like the previous two series and I knew someone on the team was superstitious.

"So I shared some of that superstition, because I never took a new puck, I always took the original puck that I got in the opening series because I didn't want to jinx it and bring bad luck."

It worked, the Steinbach Pistons defeated the Dauphin Kings 4-2 in the best-of-seven series to claim their first championship in franchise history. Goertzen said it wasn't only the special puck, he says he also made sure to acknowledge the players the exact same way while leaving the ice.

"Every time I walked off the ice from doing the ceremonial puck drop I gave the players the 'Don Cherry Thumbs Up' each time," he said.

If Goertzen's original puck, or his signature thumbs up was the tipping point for the Pistons, Hank Klassen from South East Helping Hands will take it, because he received one hundred dollars towards helping feed the hungry in southeastern Manitoba.

Goertzen, Klassen and a part of the Pistons' ownership group were at the T.G. Smith Centre this past weekend to welcome Dauphin's MLA .

"When I walked into the arena, Kelvin had the Turnbull Trophy there, he looked a little like Wayne Gretzky, holding it up in the air celebrating," said a comical Struthers who was quick to humble his counterpart.

"I quickly started pointing out how many times the Dauphin Kings won that MJHL crown, but I thought it was time to share the wealth a little bit. It was good to see a team get their name on it for the first time," he added.

The Kings have won the championship six times with their latest back in 2010.

Kelvin Goertzen (left) holding the trophy and Stan Struthers (right) with the Pistons jersey