Hawks steal point in back-and-forth game with Klippers

Braxton Buckberger made the game 2-0 Nipawin with his 21^st of the season shortly after, but Tylin Hilbig cut the lead to 2-1 prior to the end of the first period.

Kindersley took flight in the second period scoring three times flying out to a 4-2 lead heading to the final period.

The Klippers struck again early in the third to open a 5-2 lead on the road. Nipawin responded with a trio of their own, Ochitwa scored his second of the game early in the third period, Zander Stewart cut the lead t 5-4 and Ochitwa buried his first career hat-trick goal with just 50 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. He said after the game the accomplishment was tarnished.

“It’s been a while since I scored and it’s nice to be a contributor and come up and save ourselves a big point but obviously tonight is disappointing,” Ochitwa told northeastNOW after the game.

Nathan Hargrave scored the overtime-winning goal, giving Kindersley just their second win away from the West Central Event Centre this season. The Hawks do earn a point and extend their point streak to three games despite losing two of three. Ochitwa said coming back from 5-2 early in the third was a positive, but the team needs to be better.

“I am really proud of the group for coming back and getting ourselves back in that game but it’s a tough one. We play a full 60 [minutes] and we get two points,” he concluded.

The Hawks were outshot 39-25 in the game, Logan Falk picked up the win, Damon Cunningham took the loss for the Hawks in his home debut, the 18-year-old Sturgeon County, Alta. product had made four previous road starts since joining the Hawks during the Christmas break.

Nipawin’s special teams shined in the loss that kept the team four points ahead of Weyburn for seventh in the SJHL, the power-play scored twice in as many opportunities, Nipawin killed all five Kindersley power-play chances.

The Hawks will now scoreboard watch until the club’s next game on Feb. 21 at the Centennial Arena versus Flin Flon.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

Hawks steal point in back-and-forth game with Klippers

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