The Hawks battled hard in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Estevan Bruins on Tuesday in Nipawin. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Crucial Point

Hawks push Bruins to the brink

Jan 19, 2022 | 12:04 PM

The Nipawin Hawks gained a valuable point Tuesday in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Estevan Bruins in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

With the point for the shootout Nipawin is now just one back of the playoffs and three points out of seventh place.

Not only did the Hawks climb back into the race, the team managed to take the Centennial Cup hosting Bruins to the limit, something captain Cole Beamin said will build confidence going forward.

“For sure, it was a big character game,” Beamin said after the game. “We battled hard, we worked hard and it shows we can play with the best of them.”

Estevan came into the game with the highest winning percentage in the SJHL, the Bruins are second overall in the standings behind Humboldt but have several games in hand on the Broncos.

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The visitors opened the scoring six minutes into the game off the stick of Zach Burfoot, and the shots heavily piled up for the Bruins in the opening period, at one point being a 13-2 count for Estevan. Harmon Laser-Hume once again made several highlight reel saves to keep the Hawks close after one period. Beamin said Laser-Hume was key to the result.

“Good for him, he’s the Rookie of the Week, well deserved. You could see that tonight, he stood on his head for us and kept us in the game,” he said.

Mason Svarich tied the score 1-1 in the second period with his third goal of the SJHL campaign and second in as many games.

Neither team could find the back of the net again through regulation and overtime. The Hawks killed a lengthy five-on-three power play in the third period and also an extended five-on-three in overtime. Hawks interim head coach Tad Kozun was ejected in overtime following a series of calls from the officiating crew. Overall Beamin said if the Hawks can keep this momentum going down the stretch and into this weekend where they meet the La Ronge Ice Wolves in a crucial home-and-home series the postseason isn’t out of reach.

“If we come into La Ronge, we play them at home first which is good for us. We should be able to roll those guys both games,” Beamin said.

Laser-Hume finished with 35 saves plus two more in the four-round shootout. Jake Smith was the lone Hawk to score.

Faceoff for Friday’s game at the Centennia Arena in 7:30 p.m. The back end of the weekend set is Saturday in La Ronge. That game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s New Beach Radio beginning at 7:15 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork