The Hawks surround goaltender Damon Cunningham after 2-1 win in Melfort on Friday in SJHL play. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Rivalry renewed

Hawks claw out win in Melfort

Nov 18, 2023 | 10:53 AM

The Hawks now have two victories over their archrivals after a 2-1 win in Melfort Friday in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

With both teams coming off losses to Yorkton at the SJHL Showcase earlier in then week, and the Mustangs looking for revenge after Nipawin stunned Melfort 4-3 in overtime on Remembrance Day at the Centennial Arena, it was the Hawks that put a damper on the start of the Mustangs’ parent/billet weekend.

Nipawin opened the scoring at the Northern Lights Palace late in the first period on a power-play, Ronan Buckberger beat James Venne for his seventh goal of the season giving the visitors a 1-0 lead after the first period.

The score remained that way until another Nipawin rookie hit the scoresheet. Braeden Jockims snapped his second of the season past Venne making the score 2-0 Hawks. Jockims has now dressed in two games for the Hawks since being reassigned from the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. The 18-year-old Saskatoon product has scored in back-to-back games.

“Yeah, there’s a really good feeling,” Jockims said after scoring the game-winning goal Friday. “It was tough losing yesterday, but the boys kind of got back together after it. We came out hard and played a full 60 together.”

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

The Mustangs pressed in the third period and scored on a power play courtesy Ryan Duguay, but Damon Cunningham was stellar in the Nipawin net turning aside 43 shots for the win.

Jockims first goal at the Showcase came with just seven seconds left in a 5-4 loss to the Terriers. He said getting a goal in his first game gave him confidence, but now Jockims feels he chipped in with a win.

It wasn’t an important goal yesterday, but it still felt to get a goal in the first game. It felt really good to score today and contribute to the team. Just a great feeling to help the team out,” he said.

Nipawin will now prepare for their second meeting of the year with Melville on Tuesday on the road. With their record now even at 10 wins and 10 losses, the Hawks look to again try and string some wins together.

“It’s just consistency in the game, sometimes we kind of lapse,” Jockims admitted. “We go down for five minutes and we lose it, but then we get back to it. We just have to focus on playing a full 60 minutes and coming out hard and strong every period.”

Tuesday’s meeting with the Millionaires at the Horizon Credit Union Centre will b the second game of the season series, Nipawin won the first game 4-2 at the ‘Cage’ on Nov. 7.

Faceoff Tuesday is 7 p.m., the pregame show of Duplex Furniture and Appliances Hawks Hockey begins at 6:45 p.m.

–

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

View Comments

Hawks claw out win in Melfort

What's Trending