Vito Biondo (left) celebrates his first goal of the 2023/2024 SJHL season on Saturday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Offensive Onslaught

Hawks tame Ice Wolves; Nipawin beats La Ronge 8-3

Jan 7, 2024 | 11:27 AM

The Nipawin Hawks have their second straight home ice romp of 2024 after they cruised to an 8-3 win over La Ronge Saturday in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play.

The year started well for Nipawin when they doused Kindersley 7-1 at the Centennial Arena Wednesday, the Hawks were doubled 4-2 by the Bombers Friday, but back at home the team responded with another home ice win.

In the first period Artem Hrabovetskyi and Finley Radloff each scored their first of a pair of goals in the game giving Nipawin a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

The visitors did cut the lead in half in the opening minute of the second period, but Niapwin answered with four more in the middle period. Hrabovetskyi and Radloff hit the scoresheet again, Braeden Jockims snapped his eighth goal of the year past Topher Chirico and Vito Biondo picked up his first of the year as well. The 19-year-old from St. Louis, Mo. said the entire team has started the calendar year strong and the offence is exploding.

“The boys are getting pucks to the net, the boys are battling, and pucks are going in right now,” he said after the game.

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The Buckberger brothers capped the scoring in the third period with Braxton depositing his 15^th of the year, Ronan scored his eighth of the year.

The Hawks put up a season high 56 shots on route the Nipawin’s highest offensive output of the year. For Biondo, he said being part of the offence doesn’t mean much to the defence-first blueliner.

“It feels good to get a goal, but I don’t about it too much. As long as the teams wins and we have fun, that’s the moral of the story,” he said.

Tyson Endall picked up the win in net making 22 saves on 25 shots in his first start since Nov. 21.

The Hawks scored a pair of power-play goals on five opportunities, they killed all three minor penalties the team took as well.

Next up is the Hawks returning to Flin Flon on Jan. 12 looking for their first win at the Whitney Forum since Feb. 15, 2022. Biondo said the team will use their five day gap to prepare for the Bombers.

“The boys are going to work hard this week and get ready for Flin Flon. I think we will be ready to go,” he concluded.

Faceoff is 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @ClarkStork

by Clark Stork

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Hawks tame Ice Wolves; Nipawin beats La Ronge 8-3

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