Nipawin's Braxton Buckberger (28) is flocked by Hawk teammates after tying the game in Melfort during SJHL action on Friday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Comeback Kids

Hawks happy to start new year

Jan 7, 2023 | 9:19 AM

The Nipawin Hawks opened the 2023 year on the ice with a thrilling comeback win in Melfort on Friday edging the Mustangs 2-1.

The third straight meeting between the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) clubs didn’t start well for the Hawks. The Mustangs fired 14 shots on Jackson Fellner in the Nipawin net through the games’ opening 13 minutes. Nipawin finally registered their first official chance with just under seven minutes to go in the first period. Despite the sluggish start, Fellner stopped all 16 shots he faced in the opening period.

Melfort defenceman Leyton Holoien beat Fellner on the Mustang’s 20^th shot on goal during a power play early in the middle period giving the home team the 1-0 lead.

As the game progressed Nipawin gained momentum and eventually took over play in the third period. Braxton Buckberger tied the game with seven minutes gone in the final period, Zander Stewart scored the game-winning goal with just over three minutes remaining. Stewart said the win came in exciting fashion.

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“It was pretty good, a good comeback win for the boys to start the year off,” the 19-year-old West Kelowna, B.C. product said after the game.

Buckberger now has 10 goals on the season, and Stewart added his fifth of the season. The winner was scored on a Nipawin power play late in the game. He said the unit was pressing and he didn’t miss a second chance.

“A.J. [Alex Johnson], what a screen by him, the goalie didn’t see the puck go in. I had a look at it earlier in the shift, but I picked my spot that time and it went in,” he explained.

Fellner ended the game with 32 stops and a victory, Melfort goaltender Joel Favreau made 24 saves in the loss.

The Hawks had five power-play opportunities and scored once; the Mustangs had six power-plays in the game.

The rivals will meet again Saturday in Nipawin to close the home-and-home set and conclude a streak of four straight games against each other dating back to Dec. 17. Stewart said with a win on the road to start the weekend the club is greedy for all four points.

“We’re going to keep building on this win and if we play our game tomorrow it will be big,” he concluded.

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

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

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Hawks happy to start new year

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