The Nipawin Hawks will conclude their SJHL season Tuesday when they faceoff against the Battlefords North Stars. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Season Finale

Hawks conclude season in North Battleford

Mar 8, 2022 | 2:01 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will hit the highway for one more game as their 2021-22 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season concludes.

The team is not headed to the playoffs this year for the first time since the 2010-1 season and will finish their schedule with a make up game from Jan. 11 on Tuesday in North Battleford against the North Stars. Interim head coach Tad Kozun said the team’s lack of offense will be the telling tale from this season.

“We’ve been in a lot of hockey games where we needed just another goal or two and we just couldn’t find it. It’s been a struggle,” the first-year coach admitted.

One positive going forward into next season is the youth movement the team has put in place. Several games down the stretch the club didn’t dress a 20-year-old player and has had as many as four affiliate players suit up in the same game. Kozun said the 19-year-old age group currently on the roster needs to come back ready to be influential players.

“When you are looking at bringing them back, it’s like, okay, now they are 20-year-old players they have to be impact players and help us get where we need to go,” Kozun said. “It’s a tough task, I’ve been in their shoes. It’s one of those things where they must take the next step.”

Nipawin will go into their final game of the season with 17 victories and a coaching change in December. Kozun said from his position down to the club’s 17-and-18-year-old players the learning curves were steep, but the experiences gained should bode well for the future.

“That’s the thing about being in the position we’re in, they didn’t get sheltered from anything. They were thrown right in playing big minutes and playing in opportunities that wouldn’t be there on a winning team or one with older guys. The experience they were able to get is huge,” he said.

Fourth year Hawk and captain Cole Beamin will return from a suspension and play his final SJHL game, Christian Albertson will also cap his three-year career Tuesday. Unfortunately, an injury will keep the Hawks other graduating player, Kye Whillans out of the lineup. Kozun said the team will be loose and look to have some fun and potentially play spoiler ahead of their awards banquet on Friday.

“It’s nice to end the year on a winning note,” he said. “It would be nice to get this one tonight and just know going into Friday you won your final game instead of another loss.”

The game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s Beach Radio beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m., faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

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