Nipawin Hawks took an OT victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Jan. 4. 2025. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW)

By Clark Stork

Whitter Winner

Whitter’s winner secures Hawks’ victory

Jan 5, 2026 | 9:31 AM

The Nipawin Hawks needed overtime, but the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club opened the 2026 portion of their schedule with a 3-2 overtime win against the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Saturday.

Playing their first game in the new year, the Hawks admitted to starting slow, but overtime hero Will Whitter wasn’t concerned. The 18-year-old from Prince Albert, Sask. wasn’t phased after his 12^th goal of the year.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted, we didn’t bring the intensity the whole game, but we got it done,” he said after the game.

Hometown Hawks’ captain Finley Radloff opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the season. La Ronge rebounded with a pair of goals taking a 2-1 lead halfway through the first period, however, Eric Hoiness deposited his ninth goal of the year during a Nipawin power play to tie the game at 2-2 just before the opening period expired.

After neither club scored in the second or third periods, the Hawks picked up the win with Whitter’s overtime tally.

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“We had plenty of chances in the second, we just need to find our way,” he said.

Nipawin peppered the La Laronge net with 48 shots; Gage Roberts made 29 stops on 31 Ice Wolves opportunities.

The Hawks are in North Battleford on Tuesday.

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