By Clark Stork

Packed Palace

Late goal sinks Hawks in Melfort

Mar 6, 2022 | 11:37 AM

The Nipawin Hawks tried their best to play spoiler Saturday in front of a packed crowd at Melfort’s Northern Lights Palace, but a late Mustangs’ goal sealed a 4-3 victory by the home team.

Playing their last of 10 games this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) against each other, the rivals treated over 1,300 fans to a tightly contested game that Carter Anderson ended up deciding late in the third period.

Melfort opened the scoring with goals in the first period, Dawson Leroux and Mark Snarr beat Harmon Laser-Hume to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. Former Mustang Christian Albertson, playing his last game in the Palace cut the lead to 2-1 in the final minute of the first period.

Nipawin’s Joel Mabin tied the game 2-2 with the lone goal in the second period.

Melfort restored their one-goal cushion in the third period courtesy Nolan Doell. The Hawks didn’t quit, Carson Dobson tied the game 3-3 but Anderson notched the game-winning goal with just under four minutes left in regulation. Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun said he’s proud of the effort his team put forward in a hostile environment.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“Every time they scored, we’d come back and get another one, it was nice,” he said on the postgame show. “Just one turnover at the end that led to a two-on-one that they buried on, but I really liked the compete from us tonight. I thought it was a much better game than Friday night.”

Albertson added an assist to go with his team-leading 14^th goal of the season. Mabin leads the team in rookie goals with 11 and Dobson reached double digits in goals with 10. Kozun said seeing their veteran leaders put up big games is promising to go forward into next season.

“It’s nice to see those guys making an impact, we’ve talked about it quite a few times now where yeah, you are playing for now, but this is an audition for next year. You always must look ahead when you are in this business,” Kozun added.

Harmon Laser-Hume, 18, made 35 saves in net for Nipawin. James Venne made 16 stops for the Mustangs in the win. Kozun said with both Laser-Hume and Chase Hamm eligible to come back next season goaltending can be a strong point going into next year.

“Friday night we didn’t help Chase at all, we gave up three but didn’t score any,” he explained. “I thought he played well, obviously we’ve given up more shots than we’d like but that comes with dressing the line up we’re dressing. They have both battled hard, they’ve done a good job coming down the stretch in the position we’re in.”

The Hawks will now get set for their final game of the season on Tuesday in North Battleford. Faceoff is 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on Saskatchewan’s Beach Radio beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Nipawin’s awards banquet is set for Friday, March 11 at the Legion in the town. Tickets will be available still on Monday at the Hawks office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

–

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork