By Clark Stork

Do it for Goobs

Hawks hit the highway for showdown with archrivals in Melfort

Jan 29, 2022 | 3:36 PM

The Hawks are back on the ice Saturday night playing with heavy hearts following the passing of Joel Verklan.

Nipawin travels to Melfort to meet the Mustangs trying to break out from a three-game losing streak that was extended after a 5-1 loss in Kindersley. The Hawks started well on the road with a 17-shot first period but couldn’t beat Klippers’ netminder Matthew Pesenti. Hawks head coach Tad Kozun said the team needs to work harder to generate offense.

“We made it easy on their goalie,” Kozun said. “We just didn’t have net traffic. Pesenti is a good goalie, he’s proven himself in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). You need to get in front of the goalies’ eyes and make it tough for them. We’ve got to do a better job of getting to the hard areas to score goals.”

The Hawks are 12^th in the SJHL when it comes to scoring goals. The Mustangs gave up six in an overtime win over the Notre Dame Hounds on Friday. Kozun said the team needs to work together and win as a committee.

“When you work as a unit of five, that’s when good things start to happen. When you get disconnected and not helping each other out and not supporting each other, that’s when you get in trouble. You have to stick together and support each other all over the ice,” he said.

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The Mustangs have dominated the season series between the two winning the last five games. Nipawin won the first game of the year against Melfort but hasn’t found the win column since. Kozun said the club will be emotional and hopefully a win follows.

“It’s one of those where it’s going to be nice to play hockey and do it for Goobs. Especially against our archrivals. The games didn’t go well for us at Christmas and new years and guys are still pretty fuelled up from that. It should be a good one tonight with guys ready to go,” Kozun concluded.

The game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s Beach Radio starting with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork