The Nipawin Hawks will meet the Battlefords North Stars for the second time this season Friday in North Battleford. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Test the Best

Hawks prepare to meet top-ranked North Stars

Dec 9, 2022 | 12:08 PM

The Nipawin Hawks are soaring right now with four straight wins including a 10-2 taming of the Yorkton Terriers on Tuesday night at home.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) team is currently enjoying their longest winning streak of the season and has seven wins in their last 10 games. Head coach Tad Kozun said there was a good feeling in the Centennial Arena after the win.

“It was obviously a good night, it’s one of those nights that you’re happy with everything that could happen. It’s nice to get a win like that,” Kozun said Friday after the team’s gameday skate at the Centennial Arena.

The weekend ahead poses a much tougher test than the Terriers however, the number one team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League Battlefords North Stars will host the Hawks Friday before a return date to Nipawin Saturday. Kozun said the last two days have been spent implementing a gameplan to hopefully hand the North Stars their first regulation loss of the campaign.

“Making sure we play with that speed and pace that we have been playing kind of all year, but I think the last few weeks we have really ramped up our pace and speed. I think we’re moving pucks much, much better. Just must make sure we continue down the path and stick to the development we’ve seen,” he added.

The clubs met back on Nov. 12 in Nipawin; the North Stars picked up a 7-3 win. The first period of that game was goalless, but the visitors eventually went up 4-1 in the second period and never looked back. Kozun said the team needs to play hard for the complete 60 minutes.

They’re a team that capitalizes on turnovers and transitions fast,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we have a good backcheck, play with that speed and pace and frustrate them all night.”

Face-off is 7:30 p.m. from Access Communications Centre in North Battleford. The pregame show of Rona Nipawin Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio starts at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday’s rematch in Nipawin begins at 7 p.m.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

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