The Nipawin Hawks open training camp Friday at the Centennial Arena. (File photo, Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Hawks 'hawk'ey is back

Hawks hockey returns to Centennial Arena

Aug 26, 2022 | 3:07 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will open their 2022 training camp Friday at the Centennial Arena.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club is coming off an 11^th place finish a season ago and looking to rebound under the guidance of Tad Kozun. Relieved of the interim tag in the off-season after taking over for Doug Johnson last December, the hometown product is eager to hit the ice.

“I’m really excited to get going and starting a new regime of the Nipawin Hawks,” he told northeastNOW ahead of camp. “It’s been a long time since there has been a new coach here, I’m just looking forward to getting started.”

The team will see changes from a younger group they iced last year with the departure of two veterans. Kozun moved three-year defenseman Evan Bortis to Niverville of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for a player development fee. Chase Hamm, the Hawks’ 20-year-old goaltender was moved to the OCN Blizzard of the MJHL, also for a player development fee.

“It’s a change of scenery for a couple of guys that obviously put a lot of time and effort in Nipawin and just kind of wanted fresh starts. We are happy to accommodate that,” he said.

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Moose Jaw product Brady Grasdal was acquired from Portage in the MJHL to help fill the void left by departure of Bortis.

Eric Robbie and Zander Stewart will look to eat up more ice time as well with Robbie is going into his third season Stewart his second.

Prince Albert product Tre Fouquette will seek to make the Western Hockey League’s Raiders after spending the last half of last year in the SJHL.

In goal, 19-year-old Harmon Laser-Hume comes in as the favourite, but Kozun said the crease will be crowded this weekend.

“We need guys that can stop pucks and help us win every night. I think we have eight capable guys coming to camp that can really push each other for those two spots,” Kozun said.

Scoring goals was the team’s downfall last year. Nipawin scored just 128 goals, tied for Weyburn for last in the SJHL. Bryden Kiesman showed some power on the offense last season after being acquired for Brody Wilson. Rylan Lefebvre led the team in scoring with 28 points, Joel Mabin led all rookies with 11 goals. Carson Dobson had 10, Braxton Buckberger added nine.

Kozun said the players that endured the season a year ago will be counted on heavily this campaign.

“The guys that were here last are going to have to step up and take the next step. They need to realize we didn’t score enough last year. They need to take bigger roles and making sure the pucks get into th, and others aid.

With just a trio of 20-year-olds gone from last years roster, a large number of players are eligible to return including Alex Johnson, Jake Smith, Maquire Ratzlaff, Dawson Brace, Dayne Feicht, Mason Svarich,and others .

ozun said getting to the post-season is the goal.

“Our big thing is to get to the playoffs and then you never know,” he said. “Once you get in you just never know. You look at every league that goes one through eight, there’s always upsets. Just get in, and you never know.”

The first on ice session is 12 p.m. on Friday. The camp will conclude with a top-40 game on Sunday at noon. The Hawks exhibition season opens on Monday, Aug. 29.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork