Nipawin Hawks' rookie forward Burke Simpson (centre) celebrates after his second goal of the game puts his team up for good. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Hawks Blowout Broncos

Hawks blow out Broncos 7-2 heading into Thanksgiving break

Oct 12, 2019 | 3:25 PM

The Nipawin Hawks showed a sense of urgency against the Humboldt Broncos.

After starting the 2019-20 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season by winning their first six games, the Hawks dropped three of their previous five games, one of them being to their division rival Flin Flon Bombers.

Heading into their match-up with the Broncos at Centennial Arena on Oct. 11, the Sherwood Division was the only SJHL division with all four of its teams having double digits in points. The Hawks, Bombers, and Melfort Mustangs were all within three points of one another for the mountain top.

“Winning the division doesn’t mean what it once did because of the new playoff format,” Hawks Head Coach Doug Johnson said. “If you win the division, you’re going to be first or second in the whole league. All games and points are important. It’s nice to get a little bit of a break and go out on a winning note, but it wouldn’t have been any different if we played again tomorrow.”

Entering the game, the Broncos boasted the SJHL’s fourth-best offence with 41 goals in 10 games.

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The Hawks shut down the Broncos in the first period, holding them to six shots and zero goals. With two goals from center Brodie Girod and rookie forward Burke Simpson, a 2-0 first period to set the tone for Nipawin.

“We weren’t concerned about it after the first,” Johnson said. “We knew we could win the game, but you never really know until the final buzzer blows. I thought in the second period we dictated the terms of engagement and really finished them off.”

Two penalties and a power play goal against early in the second let the Broncos back into the game until Zach Cox – the 20-year-old center who returned from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League – helped create and finished a two-on-zero rush. It was the first of Cox’s two goals on the evening.

“I think early on he tried to do a little too much… he just has to play within himself,” Johnson said. “Always push to be uncomfortable, but don’t put the burden of the whole team on your shoulders; try not to do everything. Tonight, you saw a glimpse of what he can do. He got up ice really nice for that first goal and then his quick release on his second goal, there are not a lot of guys that can score that goal and he can.”

The Hawks scored three goals in the final five minutes of the second period to put them up for good. They’ll rest and practice until Friday, Oct. 18 when they visit the first place and reigning SJHL champion Battlefords North Stars.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Hawks, Brodie Girod (4) from Jack Lenchyshyn (6) and Josh Lester (4), 13:11

2-0, Hawks, Burke Simpson (3) from Zach Cox (2) and Ethan Mack (3)

Second Period

2-1, Broncos, Tristan Shewchuk (10) from Logan Foster (13) and Karter McNarland (8), 6:37 (PPG)

3-1, Hawks, Zach Cox (3) from Brodie Girod (5) and Ross Hawryluk (1), 9:31 (PPG)

4-1, Hawks, Jake Tremblay (5) from Carson Erhardt (5) and Michael Makarenko (4), 15:23

5-1, Hawks, Brodie Girod 2 (5) from Jack Lenchyshyn (7) and Max Johnson (5), 18:15 (PPG)

6-1, Hawks, Burke Simpson 2 (4) from Max Johnson (6) and Eric Sorensen (4), 19:29

Third Period

6-2, Broncos, Zach McIntyre (3) from Chase Felgueiras (2) and Cody Hough (5), 6:39 (PPG)

7-2, Hawks, Zach Cox 2 (4) from Luke Penner (2) and Josh Lester (5), 16:05

Goaltending Summary

Ross Hawryluk (W), Hawks, 20 of 22 saves in 60 minutes.

Brendan Forman (L), Broncos, 15 of 21 saves in 40 minutes.

Dawson Cochrane, Broncos, 5 of 6 saves in 20 minutes.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow