By Jeff D'Andrea

Hawks win first SJHL championship in 28 years; beat Bruins in Game 7

Apr 25, 2018 | 12:09 AM

The Nipawin Hawks did something they haven’t done since 1990, win the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship.

They defeated the Estevan Bruins 2-1 in undoubtedly the loudest area of Saskatchewan on Tuesday night, the Centennial Arena in Nipawin to win the series in seven games.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, words can’t describe how awesome this feels right now,” Hawks captain Carter Doerksen said.

Hawks defenceman Josh McDougall was the game’s hero in the third period, as he scored the championship winning goal with just under 12 minutes remaining in the third period.

The Hawks got a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play after Bruins forwards Michael McChesney took a double-minor for high sticking, and Tyson Manz followed that up quickly with a boarding penalty.

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Hawks’ forward Tyler Adams then sent the puck over to McDougall, who muscled the history making goal on a one-timer.

“That’s just my small part to the team and the community,” McDougall said, who won the SJHL Defenceman of the Year award this season. We were trying to bring a championship back to this town and we did it. That’s the best.”

The other Hawks’ goal was also scored by a D-man as captain Doerksen picked a perfect time to find his first goal of the season. He scored the lone goal of the opening period to give the Hawks’ a 1-0 advantage after receiving a pass across the point from McDougall. Doerksen’s point shot went through a maze of players in front of the net and past Bruins’ goaltender Bo Didur who was screened on the play.

“It felt amazing. I was just trying to get a shot on net, and had good screen and just got a puck through,” Doerksen said. “We got one there, yeah that felt awesome.”

Bruins captain Jake Fletcher got his 11^th goal of the postseason as the lone goal of the second period, and what turned out to the Bruins’ only goal of the game.

Declan Hobbs made 26 saves in the win for the Hawks. Bo Didur made 32 saves for the Bruins.

“They were battling just as hard as we were,” McDougall said. “Really, it was a head-to-head series. It was great to have series go seven games. That’s awesome. Hats off to them, because they really gave it their all.”

Although it’s a great accomplishment to win a league champion, the Hawks barely have any time to celebrate. The ANAVET Cup starts on Friday and Saturday and the Hawks will quickly hop on the bus. They’ll take on the Steinbach Pistons, who won the Manitoba Junior Hockey League title, in Manitoba starting this weekend.

“It’s a quick turnaround,” Doerksen said. “We got get back to work and we’re headed to Manitoba right away. This is just the beginning.”

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW