"I quit hockey, I didn't quit Steinbach."

Those are the words of 19-year-old Julien Koga, who has laced up his skates for the last time with the Steinbach Pistons. After multiple concussions, the Assistant Captain is taking the advice of medical professionals and hanging up his skates.

"It was a really tough decision for me to make," says Koga. "But I think it was the right one to make and I'm going to miss it here."

But Steinbach hasn't seen the last of Julien Koga, who has been asked by Pistons coaching staff to stick with the team in a non-playing role.

"He's such a big part of our team, off the ice now," says teammate Jordan Bochinski. "It's so awesome to see that he still has a passion for us as a team and as a group."

"He's one of the best guys around," adds teammate Mack Graham. "Not even just as a player."

One individual who knows this all too well is young Izaiah Peters. Peters has been battling cancer for three years and in October, was the special guest when the Pistons held their Pink In The Rink game. Koga spends time with Peters on a regular basis talking, reading and playing.

"I don't know if Julien knows how important he is to Izaiah," says Izaiah's mother Angie. "It's kind of a big deal that he's not going to be playing hockey but he's still going to be involved."

Barry McLean, who works security for the Pistons says it is very special to see this budding relationship between Koga and Peters.

"It's pretty special, Izaiah has a big need," says McLean. "There have been a lot of tough times for him but Izaiah doesn't know the Winnipeg Jets, he doesn't know Dustin Byfuglien, but he knows Julien."

Meanwhile, Koga's father, Todd says watching hockey in Steinbach is unlike anything he has ever experienced.

"Coming from minor hockey where quite often there's just parents and grandparents, friends in the stands," he recalls.

But then he came to Steinbach and says there were fans out, even for exhibition games.

"They are totally into it," he says. "Even the exhibitions, they are totally into it."

In 37 games with the Pistons this season, Koga scored 9 goals and added 16 assists.

(Julien Koga)