The Nipawin Hawks couldn't jump back into the win column Saturday at the Centennial Arena. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Hawks gain point in shootout loss

Nipawin clipped by Kindersley

Oct 31, 2021 | 11:19 AM

The Kindersley Klippers have had the Nipawin Hawks tail feathers in a ruffle the past couple weeks in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

Saturday at the Centennial Arena in Nipawin Kindersley edged Nipawin 2-1 in a shootout in front of just under 500 fans. The Klippers win was their third straight over the Hawks in a span of eight days. Andrew Schaab scored the Hawks goal in regulation. The St. Brieux product said his team’s effort was better but there’s more to give.

“Oh absolutely, we can always give more,” he said after the game. “Taking that extra step to get a better shot off, or something as simple as hitting the net on a wide shot could make all the difference.”

The loss was the Hawks fourth straight. A 4-1 defeat in Melville was sandwiched between games with Kindersley. Nipawin did earn a couple points in the three games thanks to extra time. Schaab picked up his fourth goal of the year. After a strong start and runner up for the SJHL forward of the week after the opening weekend he said hitting the scoresheet again felt great.

“My last few games, I have been struggling a little bit point wise, so it was a huge weight off my shoulders to see that shot go in,” Schaab said.

Nipawin was able to get some healthy bodies back from injury; Dayne Feicht had been out since Sept. 28 and Dawson Brace hasn’t played since Oct. 16. Schaab said the two young wingers helped jumpstart the team’s energy.

“It’s great to have them back in the room and around the team making some plays. It’s great to see,” he said.

Chase Hamm suffered the loss in net making 24 saves in the loss. Matthew Pesenti was named the games first star with 25 saves in the Kindersley net.

Nipawin now sits with a record of 6-7-0-2, tied with Kindersley in seventh place overall in the SJHL standings. The club’s next action is Friday in La Ronge that starts a weekend home-and-home series against the Ice Wolves. Nipawin won both games when the teams met on opening weekend. Schaab said the team expects a revamped La Ronge team.

“For sure, we have all been practicing and getting better this season so far, they are going to come out hard. We have to make sure we come out hard after a big week of practice and really bearing down,” he said.

In a roster move, Nipawin traded 2002-born forward Graeme Patrick to Campbelltown of the Maritime Junior Hockey League for a player development fee. The Winnipeg product had one assist in seven games with the Hawks after being acquired from Selkirk of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

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