The Hawks celebrate Will Whitter's goal Tuesday against the La Ronge Ice Wolves in SJHL play. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Picked up a point

Nipawin nipped by La Ronge in overtime

Oct 9, 2024 | 12:41 PM

The Nipawin Hawks earned a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the La Ronge Ice Wolves in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play Tuesday at the Centennial Arena.

Back on home ice after a southern road trip last weekend the Hawks looked for a strong start in front of a good crowd at the ‘Cage’ but just 30 seconds into the game the Ice Wolves opened the scoring. La Ronge added another goal in the first period staking themselves to a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play. The team did manage to fight back, but Assistant Coach Derek Hutton said the club needs to be ready at puck drop.

“That’s not the start that we were looking for,” he said after the game. “We have to be a lot tougher and a lot smarter with the puck.”

The home team would respond in the second courtesy of Nipawin’s 17-year-old rookie Will Whitter, the Prince Albert product scored his fourth and fifth goals of the SJHL season in the second tying the game at 2-2.

The Hawks got the lead in the third when Konnor Watson redirected a shot from the blue line for his first career SJHL goal. However, the lead lasted 35 seconds before La Ronge tied the game at 3-3 eventually forcing overtime. Hutton said Whitter and Watson have been great over the last couple weeks for the club.

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“It’s nice when you can lean on your young guys, Whitts [Whitter] has been just on another planet I feel. He’s young but he thinks the game like a 20-year-old and his work ethic and attitude is second to none. Watty [Watson] has just been on a roll,” he said.

In the end Graham Brown made one more save than Tyson Endall, 31 to 30 giving the Ice Wolves the extra point in overtime.

The Hawks will travel to Yorkton Friday for their lone game of the Thanksgiving weekend. Hutton said the club will prepare over the next couple days for a tough test on the road.

“We’re going to have to have a good week of practice here, but we’re going have to go in and be ready from the start. They are a team that turn pucks north quickly and make you pay,” Hutton concluded.

Friday’s game will faceoff at 7 p.m. from Westland Insurance Arena, the pregame show of Nipawin Chrysler Dodge Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio will begin at 6:45 p.m.