By Clark Stork

Hawks Hockey

Ratzlaff scores first SJHL goal; Hawks fall to La Ronge

Jan 22, 2022 | 2:02 AM

The Nipawin Hawks slipped further back of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoff race courtesy in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

With points in back-to-back games during a five-game homestand that concluded with this game, Nipawin was confident ahead of the matchup. The Ice Wolves had other ideas and opened a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals by Liam McInnis and Conrad Mitchell. The Hawks responded before the first period was over, Maquire Ratzlaff beat Dawson Smith for his first career SJHL goal cutting the lead to 2-1.

Nipawin couldn’t generate any more offense, the Ice Wolves got goals from Gavin Mattey and Tye Evans in the third to secure the win. Ratzlaff said nothing seemed to go right for the Hawks in the game.

“We had our chances, and some bounces didn’t go our way, we got into some penalty trouble in the third, but yeah we just need to be better,” he told northeastNow after the game.

Ratzlaff, 18, was acquired by the Hawks on the Jan. 10 trade deadline from Melville. In 11 games with the Millionaires, he didn’t reach the score sheet. He said finally getting his first goal was a memorable moment despite the loss.

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“[Bryden] Kiesman did all the work,” Ratzlaff explained. “I just had to put it in the net, but no, it was really special. When I got I traded here I was looking for a fresh start. I am getting to play with some awesome guys. It was super special, no words in that moment.”

Harmon Laser-Hume took the loss in goal for the Hawks making 20 saves. Smith turned aside 21 of 22 Nipawin shots on goal.

With the win the Ice Wolves move three points up on Nipawin in the SJHL standings, La Ronge jumped to seventh place, the Hawks are in 11^th, three back of Melville who currently holds the final postseason seed.

For the second straight game the Hawks needed to kill a lengthy five-on-three powerplay, in the third the team was shorthanded for a seven-minute span with a full two-man advantage squeezed into the middle. The Hawks killed the infractions off, but Mattey’s goal took away any potential comeback.

Nipawin and La Ronge meet again this time at the Mel Hegland Uniplex on Saturday. Ratzlaff said the team can’t dwell on the result in game one of the home-and-home series and needs to respond on the road.

“We have an opportunity to bounce back, getting ourselves in contention is going to be important, we need those two points,” he said.

Saturday’s game begins at 7:30 p.m. in La Ronge. The game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s New Beach Radio beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork