Braxton Buckberger (middle) scored the Teddy Bear Toss goal Sunday for the Hawks. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Teddy Bear Toss

Buckberger scores teddy bear goal; Hawks win third straight

Dec 5, 2022 | 10:17 AM

The Nipawin Hawks won their third straight game Sunday doubling Melville 4-2 in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

The matinee contest was the Hawks’ annual Teddy Bear Toss and Food Drive for the Salvation Army in Nipawin. This year it was Braxton Buckberger who scored the team’s first goal in the second period triggering the fans to throw stuffed toys onto the ice that will be donated to the local charity.

“It’s a great feeling; it’s for a good cause. It’s awesome to have the stands full,” the 19-year-old said after the game. “It’s just nice to get one.”

After a scoreless first period Buckberger bulged the twine behind Kelton Pyne for his seventh of the year tying the game at 1-1 on a Nipawin power play.

Francois-Xavier Bedard gave the Hawks the lead before the second period ended.

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Carson Dobson and Alex Ochitwa added goals in the third period giving the home team a 4-1 cushion. Melville’s Aiden Robson beat Jackson Fellner late to cap the scoring. The win was the Hawks’ third straight, all over Melville. Buckberger said the players are confident during their longest winning streak of the season.

“It’s great to get three wins in a row, especially going into the tough stretch we’re going to have here. I think we have momentum; the team is pushing the right way right now and things are looking good,” Buckberger said.

Fellner made 28 saves for his sixth win of the season. Pyne was forced to make 44 stops in his second loss of the week to Nipawin.

The Hawks will now host Yorkton on Tuesday before a weekend home-and-home series against the Battlefords North Stars. Bukberger said the group can’t look past the Terriers who are just four points behind the Hawks in the SJHL playoff race.

“Yeah, for sure, we have to take it one game at a time. This next one is big. We just have to take it one game at a time,” he said.

Tuesday’s game will mark the halfway point of the Hawks season, the club is in seventh place overall. Face-off at the Centennial Arena is at 7 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork