The Nipawin Hawks fired 33 shots on Cody Jaman Saturday in SJHL action in Kindersley. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Saturday Night Hockey

Hawks flightless in loss to Klippers

Nov 20, 2022 | 1:45 PM

The Nipawin Hawks split a pair of games this weekend in Kindersley after a 6-3 loss to the Klippers on Saturday in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

After a dramatic 7-4 comeback win on Friday the visitors got behind again in the rematch at the West Central Event Centre but couldn’t recover for the second night in a row. Head Coach Tad Kozun took the blame after the loss as expressed on the postgame show of Nipawin Rona Hawks Hockey on Beach Radio.

“That was unacceptable, after coming back last night you expect to get the same effort and we weren’t ready to go. I will take the blame for that because obviously we didn’t have them prepared enough, but obviously it wasn’t good enough anywhere,” he said.

Kindersley opened the scoring before Braxton Buckberger scored his fifth goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1 in the first period. The Klippers added another two before the first period expired. Kindersley expanded their lead to 4-1 after the second period and 5-1 early in the third stanza. Alex Johnson picked up his sixth goal of the year and third of the weekend to make the score 5-2.

Kindersley responded again before Nipawin rookie F.X. Bedard scored his third career goal to cap the scoring. Kozun said the night soured what could have been a key road trip.

“I don’t even know where we were tonight, I really don’t,” he huffed. “Obviously we were fighting pucks and some guys didn’t have it and those nights are going to happen, but you have to find a way to be a difference maker in other ways and we just didn’t have that tonight.”

Jackson Fellner suffered the loss in goal making 12 saves, he was relieved after giving up five goals, Reid Lalonde allowed one in relief. Cody Jaman stopped 30 Hawks’ chances in the win.

Nipawin is now off until Nov. 27 when they travel to Melville. With eight days off Kozun said the team needs to solve their defensive woes.

“We’re going to take this break and make sure guys get rested up. We have a pretty hectic schedule up until Christmas time so we’re going to get to work, shore those things up and be ready to go next Sunday,” he concluded.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

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