Hawks begin potential season saving road trip

The Nipawin Hawks will embark on a three-game road trip that will likely decide their playoff aspirations for this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.

Nipawin is in Wilcox Thursday to meet the Notre Dame Hounds. On Friday the Hawks travel to Estevan, followed by a showdown in Weyburn Saturday against the Reg Wings. The Hawks have 10 games remaining and sit four points back of the final playoff spot. Notre Dame is behind Nipawin in the postseason picture, but the Red Wings and Bruins are both teams the Hawks are trying to catch. Weyburn is four points ahead with 10 games left, the Bruins are eight points ahead, tied for sixth with Kindersley. With the crucial games ahead, Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun said the club can’t overlook Thursday night.

“Those are massive games, but you can’t look past tonight in Wilcox against Notre Dame,” he told northeastNOW after the team met game day morning. “They have been playing some good hockey of late and are looking to play spoiler.”

The Hawks opened 2024 with a solid week, (two lopsided wins and loss to Flin Flon) but since went on a slide that included an eight game losing streak. The club rebounded slightly with two wins in their last three games including a spirited 5-1 win over Kindersley in Nipawin last Friday. Kozun said his players need to build off that momentum.