The Nipawin Hawks faceoff against the Melfort Mustangs again this weekend. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Hawks return to action vs. Melfort

Hawks look for revenge against rivals

Dec 31, 2021 | 2:58 PM

The Nipawin Hawks are looking for redemption as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club returns to action following the Christmas break.

The Hawks will travel to meet the Mustangs in Melfort looking to bounce back from a weekend sweep by their rivals on Dec. 18 and 19. Nipawin Head Coach Tad Kozun said his team needs to be ready for games of this magnitude in the second half of the season.

“These are the games you want to get up for — even when I played and now sitting in this chair — these are the games you want to get up for,” Kozun said. “You always hate losing to Melfort, there’s obviously been the rivalry there for a lot of years.”

Melfort has taken three of four contests between the two clubs this season — the Hawks have a shootout win over the Mustangs. Melfort has collected points in each game. The results head-to-head outline the overall standings where the Mustangs sit fourth overall, Nipawin is in ninth and sitting outside the playoffs.

Kozun said the message is simple for their young squad going into the new year.

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“We have to be the hardest working team in the SJHL from here on out. We can’t give away any points to anyone,” he stated.

In the previous home-and-home series prior to the break, Melfort won 6-1 on home ice before blanking the Hawks 3-0 in Nipawin. Kozun said the players responded and played better in the loss at the Centennial Arena, but the results need to change.

“The wins are what matter, and we didn’t come out with either one. Looking at this weekend it’s time for our redemption and take four points this weekend,” Kozun said.

Nipawin will have 20-year-old centreman Kye Whilans back in the lineup tonight. The Manning, Alta. product had four points in seven games before suffering an upper body injury. Kozun hopes the veteran forward will help their special teams, the power play ranks 10^th in the SJHL and the Hawks’ penalty killing is ninth. Kozun said those need to improve if the club hopes to get back inside the playoff picture.

“Special teams win you games or lose you games, that’s something I am a firm believer in. If you have good discipline, then you are not on the penalty kill a lot too, so it comes with discipline from the guys. In saying that, it needs to be better,” he said.

The clubs will meet at the Northern Lights Palace Friday, the game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s New Beach Radio beginning at 7:15 p.m. Saturday’s rematch faces off in Nipawin at 7:30 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork