Ashton Tait (21) scored a pair of goals for the Hawks Tuesday in an 8-2 loss in Flin Flon. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Woes at the Whit

Flin Flon continues to give Hawks headaches

Dec 18, 2024 | 2:47 PM

The Hawks dropped an 8-2 decision in Flon Flon Tuesday, Nipawin’s 16^th straight loss to the Bombers.

Seeking the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) team’s first win at the Whitney Forum since Feb. 15, 2022, the storyline was all too familiar as the Bombers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. Nipawin Assistant Coach Derek Hutton was not pleased with the effort from the group.

“We came out flat, finished the game flat, it’s hard to win hockey games when you are giving up 50 shots in grade ‘A’ scoring opportunities right in the middle of your slot. No battle, no compete, not a good effort,” he said on the postgame show.

The loss was also the Hawks 22^nd in their last 25 games with the Bombers. Hutton has only been with Nipawin since the start of this year, so the struggles precede the Hawks new assistant coach, and he was quick to credit the Bombers for their success.

“It’s a tough place to play and they are a very good hockey team, they are very structured, they play the game the right way, they play for one another. I don’t know but it’s something we got to get over and we have one more opportunity this year,” he said.

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The SJHL’s Saskatchewan Player of the Week Ashton Tait had both goals for the Hawks in the loss, the 18-year-old Prince Albert product now has six goals this season.

Gage Roberts made several big stops, overall, the Fort McMurray, Alta. resident made 42 saves.

Nipawin will close the 2024 calendar year with a home and home series with Melfort this weekend starting Friday at the Centennial Arena. Hutton said the Mustangs will provide a tough test the Hawks need to be ready for.

“That’s the best part of this league especially with how many games we have been playing lately, you do have a good opportunity to come back and reset. We’re going to have to be ready, Melfort is a very strong hockey team and once again they play the right way. We’re going to have to be defensively responsible and not give up opportunities like we did tonight,” Hutton concluded.

Faceoff Friday is 7 p.m., the rematch on Saturday in Melfort is a 7:30 p.m. start.