Nipawin celebrates Braxton Buckberger's 22nd goal of the SJHL season in a 5-3 Hawks win Tuesday at the Centennial Arena. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Tuesday Night Hockey

Hawks soar over Klippers; clawing at playoff position

Mar 1, 2023 | 6:17 AM

The Nipawin Hawks grounded Kindersley 5-3 on Tuesday to inch themselves closer to a return to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoffs for the first time since March of 2020.

Beginning a week of four games 11 points ahead of Notre Dame for the final postseason berth the Hawks hosted the Klippers for the final time during the 2022 – 23 season. After a goalless first period the visitors opened the scoring early in the second period. Logan Linklater beat Nipawin starter Damon Cunningham to make the score 1-0 Klippers.

The Hawks responded on the power-play shortly after when Braxton Buckberger scored his 22nd goal of the year to knot the game at 1-1. Reid McKay banked his fifth goal of the season off a Kindersley defender giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

Rookie defenseman Vito Biondo added insurance early in the third period with his second career goal putting the home team up 3-1.

Kindersley climbed right back into the game scoring two goals just 16 seconds apart tying the score 3-3 just 40 seconds after the Hawks expanded their lead to two.

The back-and-forth affair continued late into the period before Reese Malkewich beat Logan Falk for his seventh goal of the year and the game winner. McKay added an empty net goal late. Joel Mabin led the way with a trio of assists in the win. He said the game had it’s ups and downs but the group is pleased with the result.

“We went up a couple goals and then they scored a couple quick ones on us, and our momentum went down a little bit,” the 19-year-old Lethbridge, Alta. product said after the game. “Once we got the third one, and then the fourth went in we were rolling after that.”

Mabin was originally credited with four assists in the game, the points were altered after review, but the second-year Hawk reached the 40-point plateau during the game and snapped a five game pointless streak. He said everyone needs to contribute as the team tries to climb as high as they can in the final five games of the campaign.

“We need some momentum to get up in that seventh spot hopefully maybe even sixth to play that first round matchup against either Humboldt or Flin Flon, both would be pretty great series,” he said.

With the victory combined with Weyburn’s regulation loss to Notre Dame the Hawks move four points ahead of the Red Wings for seventh. Nipawin is four points behind Estevan for sixth with a game in hand. Notre Dame remains 11 points behind the Hawks, however the Hounds have seven games left. Mabin said the team isn’t looking too far ahead without having clinched but for the team’s veteran players the anticipation is building.

“For sure, especially missing playoffs last year it will be exciting to get a taste of the action. I think we’re a pretty gritty, fast team so I think playoff hockey will fit us pretty good,” Mabin concluded.

The Hawks are in Melville on Wednesday to face the Millionaires, a game rescheduled from Nov. 5 due to bad weather. The game will be broadcasted on 750 Beach Radio beginning at 6:45 p.m., face-off is at 7 p.m.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

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