Nipawin defenseman Ronan Buckberger scored his first career SJHL goal Friday in a 7-1 Hawks win over Kindersley. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Night of Firsts

Hawks ground Klippers at the ‘Cage’

Sep 30, 2023 | 12:21 PM

The Nipawin Hawks exploded for six first period goals Friday in a 7-1 victory over the Kindersley Klippers picking up their first win of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.

The Klippers took an early lead courtesy Alex Mack, but once the Hawks were able to get one past Cody Jaman in the Kindersley net, the floodgates opened. Nipawin scored half a dozen goals in just under seven minutes in the first, taking a 6-1 lead into the first intermission. Braxton Buckberger led the way with a pair of goals and four points overall. The 20-year-old winger said getting in the win column felt great for the team.

“It’s good to get the first win of the season under our belts,” he said. “The boys came out firing early, yeah, just a good win.”

Rookie defenseman Ronan Buckberger scored his first career SJHL goal in the game, as did first year forward Eric Hoiness. Buckberger said sharing the memory of his younger brother’s first career goal was special.

“It’s a huge steppingstone in his development as a player and it was great to be on the ice with him when he had that moment,” he said.

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Finley Radloff scored his first goal of the year; Evan Forrest scored a pair of shorthanded goals in the first period just 18 seconds apart. Buckberger said he feels the offense will get rolling after only scoring five times in the first two games of the season.

“I think our offense is going to start clicking here. We just have to keep playing with speed. We have a good forward group and I have confidence in my teammates,” he said.

Damon Cunningham picked up the win in net for Nipawin, he made 20 saves. Cody Jaman took the loss, he allowed five goals in the first period and was relieved by Logan Falk, Falk allowed a goal on the lone shot he faced before Jaman returned to the net to start the second period and finish the game, he was credited with 28 stops.

The Hawks host the Notre Dame Hounds on Saturday, faceoff is 7 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

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Hawks ground Klippers at the ‘Cage’

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