Reid McKay and the Nipawin Hawks we're in the face of the Battlefords' Justen Maric all night Tuesday in SJHL action that the North Stars won 3-2 in overtime. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Picking up points

Hawks claw out point in overtime loss at North Battleford

Mar 8, 2023 | 11:50 AM

The Nipawin Hawks scratched out a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Battlefords North Stars Tuesday on the road. Nipawin is now five points ahead of the Weyburn Red Wings for seventh place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) standings, with one game remaining.

Travelling to North Battleford for the final regular season road game of the season the Hawks were without six regulars due to sickness, injuries, and suspensions for the fourth and final meeting with the SJHL’s top-ranked club. Despite the short bench, including a trio of affiliate players up front, the Hawks scored first and kept the game close.

Carson Dobson scored his 19^th goal of the season in the first period for Nipawin giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

That stood until the second period, the North Stars scored a pair of goals in the middle frame giving the Battlefords a 2-1 lead going to the third period.

Early in the final period, 19-year-old Chase Visser tied the game at 2-2 just after the Hawks killed their only penalty of the game early in the frame. The first-year Nipawin centreman said after the Hawks picked up a turnover, he went to work scoring his fourth goal of the year on a breakaway.

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“I saw a guy coming on my right, I kind of just stepped in front of him. I went to my backhand and beat the goalie that way,” he explained after the game.

The North Stars continued to press on route to a 45 shot effort, but between Nipawin starter Damon Cunningham and Jackson Fellner, the Hawks got 42 saves through almost 65 minutes of play. Battlefords captain Jake Southgate ended the game while beating Fellner for his second goal of the contest.

Cunningham was injured with about six minutes remaining in the third period after making 37 saves. Visser said the team dug deep and felt they earned a key point that might just keep Nipawin away from the North Stars in round one of the postseason.

“Obviously we knew who we were playing against, and it was a big game for us,” he said. “I think we really came out to play the full 60 minutes, it didn’t go our way but really proud of the guys.”

Nipawin will now rest up and prepare for their final game of the regular season on Friday against the Melfort Mustangs. Admission is free for the game. Visser said the team will take a day and get set to put on a show ahead of the playoffs at the ‘Cage.’

“I think it’s important, we’ve played a lot of hockey recently going every other day. Day off Wednesday, we will rest up and then get ready for Melfort again on Friday,” he concluded.

Face-off is 7 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork