The Nipawin Hawks will welcome back Vito Biondo III the team after starting the season in the NAHL. (Submitted photo/Rhesa/Richard Petersen)

By Clark Stork

Defenseman depth

Hawks blueline adds two veterans

Oct 10, 2024 | 3:16 PM

The Nipawin Hawks defense core will look different when the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club takes the ice Friday in Yorkton.

The team announced this week that 20-year-old defenseman Vito Biondo III will return to the organization after a stint with the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). General Manager Tad Kozun admitted the call to return for a third year from Biondo was a nice one to get.

“Losing Vito on the blueline in the summer was a tough blow to our plans, but to hear he wanted to return to Nipawin and conclude his career where is started, in black and gold was a great call to receive,” Kozun said. “Vito will inject instant minutes to our defense group and his experience can help the young group develop along with Henry (Smith).”

Kozun also pulled the trigger on a trade that landed the Hawks 2005 born rearguard Conor Ryan.

Ryan, 18, joined the Bombers last year playing in 16 regular season games scoring once and adding three assists. The St. John’s, Nlfd. product also had a goal and assist in four postseason games. Kozun said the Nipawin staff has had their eyes on Ryan for several years and are delighted to get him into the organization.

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“We’re really excited to get Conor, we have been watching him since he was at Shawnigan (U-18 Prep) and last year we obviously saw him end up in Flin Flon, we play Flon a lot and watching him play, he is exactly what we are missing right now,” Kozun said.

With current stalwart Henry Smith already playing plenty of minutes, and Vito Biondo III returning, Ryan brings an SJHL finals appearance to the Hawks group as well, another positive Kozun was keen on.

Ryan will be in the lineup Friday when the Hawks travel to Yorkton.

The team has also sent Nolan Wytrykusz to Selkirk of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for a player development fee.

by Clark Stork

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Hawks blueline adds two veterans

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