The Nipawin Hawks will meet the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Friday for the first time since Sept. 16. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Friday Night Lights

Hawks host Ice Wolves for first time this season

Nov 4, 2022 | 12:21 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will take on the La Ronge Ice Wolves Friday for the first time since opening night of the 2022-23 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.

The Northern Saskatchewan rivals met at the Mel Hegland Uniplex on Sept. 16, La Ronge won the game 7-4. The Ice Wolves have climbed to fifth in the SJHL standings and have seven wins in their last 10 games. Nipawin snapped a five-game losing streak last Saturday with a shootout win over Weyburn and sits in ninth place, six points behind the Ice Wolves. Hawks head coach Tad Kozun said he’s excited for the test La Ronge will provide.

“La Ronge is always a team that’s going to work hard. The way they play under ‘Killer’ [Ice Wolves head coach Kevin Kaminski] up there, they come in waves. You must be ready; you have to bring your ‘A’ game or things can get away quickly,” Kozun said after the Hawks’ gameday skate.

With six days off between games and a more balanced schedule than Nipawin had to start the season Kozun was impressed with practice this week. He said with two key games on the schedule including a trip to Melville Saturday the weekend should be fun.

“I thought we had a really great week of practice, I am really excited to get going and build off last Saturday,” he added.

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Nolan McDowell took the loss for Nipawin on Sept. 16, the 19-year-old has since been traded to the Renfrew Wolves of the Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL) for a player development fee. Jackson Fellner was acquired by the Hawks from Melfort and won his Hawk debut on Saturday against the Red Wings, one of the Regina product’s former teams. Kozun said the 19-year-old will start again on Friday.

“Maybe he was a little shaky to start, I am sure there were some nerves playing against the team he played for last year and coming back into the league after being at home, but he’s starting to settle in. We’re really excited to see him tonight with another start,” Kozun said.

Face-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork