The Steinbach Pistons were frantically working this afternoon trying to fill in the gaps due to a spate of recent injuries. The team now with nine players out due to various ailments as they prep for the Winnipeg Blues Wednesday night.

The Pistons making a couple of deals to try and plug some holes sending young forward Nathan Wisniewski and a 6th round pick in next year's draft to the Portage Terriers in exchange for forward Dustin Loeppky.  Pistons Assistant Coach Paul Dyck says Loeppky is not a complete unknown to them.

“Some people around here will be familiar with him.  He's a 17-year old winger who has good size.  He did play against us when we were in Portage and actually scored against us.”

Dyck is hoping Leoppky will be in the lineup for tonight.
He adds the Pistons also acquired a blueliner.

“Alex O'Leary is a 19-year old defenceman who's been playing in Bloomington, MN and is originally from Kansas City.  Obviously, with our injury situation, we felt we needed immediate help.  Hopefully, he's a player that can help us for the remainder of the season and into next year as well.”

Dyck says the team was unable to complete the paper work in time for O'Leary to play tonight, but he will suit up for Friday's game.  David Robertson from the Southwest Cougars and Brett Lernout from the Winnipeg Wild 'AAA' Midget Hockey League have also been called up for tonight.  

The Pistons will still be short a few players when they hit the ice tonight against the Blues.  The Blues sit two points back of Winkler for top spot in the Addison Division.

Puck drop is at 7:30pm at the TG Smith Centre.