19-year-old Travis Hensrud scored a hat trick and added an assist, helping Steinbach extend their winning streak to 10 games with an 8-1 dismantlement of the Selkirk Steelers Friday night.

Prior to puck drop, Pistons forward Cooper Rice was honored as the Pistons MJHL RBC Community Ambassador. Rice received a certificate to commemorate the honor. Rice also decided he would fill in for captain Zac Patrick on the ceremonial face off. His teammates were all smiles, as was Rice himself.

After a lighter moment that many won't soon forget, the game got underway.

Hensrud got the scoring party started in the first period, scoring his 20th of the year to make it 1-0. Jackson Betcher and Hunter Degelman picked up the assists.

A couple minutes later, Jack Rogers would hit the scoreboard. The St.Cloud commit took what the Steelers gave him as he burned a path into the offensive zone after the Selkirk defence went for an ill-timed line change. He fired a wrist shot perfectly off the post and in for his 21st of the year.

With under 10 seconds to go in the first period, the Steelers managed to cut the lead in half. Steinbach took a 2-1 lead into intermission.

In the second, a power play goal by Zac Patrick would restore the Pistons two goal lead. The captain fired a puck from the point that found it's way through traffic and it to make it 3-1. For Patrick, it was his 9th goal of the year and gives him 6 points over his last 4 games. Zach Power picked up the lone assist.

Selkirk had their opportunities to climb back into the game throughout the period as Steinbach cut a steady path to the penalty box. After the Patrick goal, the Pistons gave the Steelers six straight minutes in power play time.

They had a number of chances in all kinds of ways. From in tight to rush chances,point shots to rebounds, the Steelers piled on the shots but Will Hambley turned every shot away. The 19-year-old was an absolute rock star in the crease.

With Hambley on fire, the Pistons survived the penalty kills and then got back to scoring goals.

Ty Paisley showed off some elite hands to set up the 4-1 goal. The rookie cut into the slot through the Steelers defence, drew all the attention to him, then made a beautiful pass over to Rogers who chipped in his second of the game and 22nd of the year. Quinton Pepper nabbed the secondary assist on the second power play goal of the game.

The crowd wasn't done cheering and the Rogers goal wasn't even announced when Hensrud struck for his second of the game. Just 12 second after the 4-1 goal, Betcher fired a point shot that deflected off Hensrud and in to make it 5-1. 

Hensrud would close out the period completing his hat trick.

While short handed, Owen Weihs tried to clear the zone when the puck landed on the stick of Hensrud. He and Weihs broke into the zone as the seconds ticked away in the period. Hensrud hesitated and fired a low, hard shot right into the back of the net. His 22nd of the year was scored with six seconds left in the frame and gave Steinbach a commanding 6-1 lead heading into the third.

Even with the four goals in the period, the second belonged to Hambley who was spectacular, making 20 saves in the frame.

Emotions started to ramp up as the physical play of both teams picked up. Lots of chatter from both benches and some shots after the whistle got both teams hot under the collar. 

Another short handed goal for Steinbach pushed the lead to 7-1 when Power broke free from the Steelers defence, showed incredible patience, worked the puck to to the front of the goal and buried a beauty. Power hit the 10 goal plateau while Hensrud capped off a tidy four point night with the only assist.

Steinbach had one more goal left in tank and it belonged to Weihs. Celebrating his 19th birthday, the Winnipeg product went to the front of the net and deflected a Rogers shot in for his 5th goal of the year. Bryce Kilbourne would pick up the secondary assist on the final goal of the evening.

Frustrations mounted and both teams refused to be pushed around. More chatter, more scrums behind the play and after whistles kept the referees busy right till the end of the game.

A strange event in front of the Steelers net resulted in Hunter Degelman going down with a lower body injury late in the period. The 18-year-old forward needed assistance to get off the ice and looked to be in considerable discomfort. He did not return.

For a 10th consecutive game, the final horn sounded with the Pistons on top.

The power play finished 2-6 while the MJHL's best penalty kill was a sparkling 10-10. 

Hambley made 38 saves on the night to improve his record 24-2 with a goals against of 1.99 and a save percentage of .929 in 1662 minutes of work. 

It's the third time in the past four home games that Steinbach has scored 7 goals, meaning all fans with a ticket could bring it to Smitty's in Steinbach for free pancakes. 

Steinbach will be right back to work as they visit the Steelers on Saturday night. The game will be on MIX 96 on SteinbachOnline.com with the pre-game show at 7:15 pm and puck drop at 7:30 pm,