The La Ronge Ice Wolves were all around the Nipawin Hawks net Tuesday in SJHL action. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW)

By Clark Stork

Not so special teams

Hawks flightless in loss to Ice Wolves

Dec 14, 2022 | 11:28 AM

The La Ronge Ice Wolves have taken a 2-1 season series lead over the Nipawin Hawks after a 4-1 victory Tuesday in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

Both Sherwood Division teams had a home ice win in the two previous games earlier this season, but La Ronge was able to jump all over Nipawin in the opening period, take a 3-0 lead in the opening frame, and cruised to the win. Nipawin assistant coach Levi Stuart said the Hawks weren’t ready from the opening face-off.

“It starts with preparation and just leads right into our mental mistakes early on and penalty trouble obviously continuing throughout the game, all those things are kind of a recipe for disaster,” he said after the game.

Nipawin was able to stop the bleeding in the second period, keeping the Ice Wolves at bay, but the Hawks couldn’t solve Dawson Smith in the La Ronge net. Smith made 29 saves for the win, only Tre Fouquette snapped the shutout bid late in the third period after the Ice Wolves had made it 4-0 in the final period.

Nipawin was unable to score on any of their five power-play chances in the game, La Ronge scored three times while up a man. The Hawks’ special teams have improved heavily over the past month, but the club took a beating in that department Tuesday. Stuart said the results speak for themselves.

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“It’s part of it for sure,” he said. “There were a couple times we’ve to clear on the penalty-kill, we’re not bearing down, leaving guys backdoor, and obviously not being able to generate much on the power-play either.”

Jackson Fellner took the loss in goal for Nipawin, he made 26 stops for the Hawks.

Nipawin will now prepare for a weekend home-and-home set with the Melfort Mustangs. The two archrivals have yet to meet this year and will now play four times in a row, twice before the Christmas break and two more times in early January. Stuart said the team needs to prepare and not look past two crucial games before a two-week break.

“It’s time to reset here, generate everything we know we can do, and play Hawks hockey. Come out and bang and crash, forecheck, and play with speed. We must come out, prepare the right way, and get after it right away,” Stuart concluded.

The first game of the weekend will be played in Nipawin on Friday beginning at 7 p.m., Saturday’s rematch is back at the Northern Lights Place.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

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Hawks flightless in loss to Ice Wolves

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