Awesome moment

Hawks cash in on Millionaires

Jan 16, 2022 | 11:10 AM

The Nipawin Hawks returned from an 11-day COVID induced hiatus Saturday and played well in a 4-1 win over Melville.

Seeing their first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) game action since Jan. 4, Nipawin needed a win to build momentum as the club tries to get back into the playoff picture. The players showed rust in the opening period against the Millionaires allowing the visitors to open the scoring in the first period.

Going to the second period down one, the home team dominated the second period, getting goals from Alex Johnson and Ethan Tinevez to open a 2-1 lead. The shots in the second period were 15 to five in favour of the Hawks.

Joel Mabin scored in the third to widen the gap to 3-1, Mason Svarich added an empty-net goal to seal the Hawks’ 13th win. Tinevez said the win felt great for a group that’s started the 2022 calendar year on a negative note.

“Yeah, definitely,” the 18-year-old Airdrie, Alta. product told northeastNOW after the game. We’ve been struggling lately and it’s definitely nice to get the first win of hopefully many.”

Tinevez’s second period tally was the game-winning goal and the first of his SJHL career. He said the instant was one he will remember for a long time.

“It was awesome, Svarich threw it on net, and I picked it up off my skate and slid it in. It was an awesome moment for sure,” he said.

Nipawin outshot Melville 31 to 28 in the game, Harmon Laser-Hume made several key stops for the Hawks throughout the game earning the victory. Despite the slanted play in the second the Millionaires and their goaltender Alexis Giroux kept the game close until the empty-net goal capped the scoring late in the third period. Tinevez said the team focused on staying with their game plan during the second intermission.

“We were pumped up, but we stayed focused, it definitely should have been more than a 2-1 game and Harmon bailed us out a couple times. The chances are coming, we just have to find a way to put them in the back of the net,” Tinevez said.

The Hawks will now get set for a matchup with the Centennial Cup hosting Estevan Bruins on Tuesday at the Centennial Arena. Faceoff is 7:30 p.m.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork

View Comments