Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
(Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
New netminders

Hawks move Laser-Hume; confident club after pre-season

Sep 13, 2022 | 2:43 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will have two new netminders manning the crease going into the 2022-23 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.

On Friday afternoon, prior to the club’s final exhibition game, the team announced returning goaltender Harmon Laser-Hume was traded to the Flin Flon Bombers for a player development fee. Nipawin’s staff including General Manager and Head Coach Tad Kozun, Assistant General Manager Dana Dirks, and Assistant Coach Levi Stuart agreed to begin the season with newcomers Nolan McDowell and Reid Lalonde. Kozun said the tandem earned the right to be Hawks.

“They came in and flat out stole the jobs and outplayed and outworked,” he said. “You have to take your two best goalies at camp and that’s what we did.”

Laser-Hume played 23 games for Nipawin last season. The 19-year-old posted a record of four wins and 13 losses with a goals-against-average of 3.65 and a save percentage of .887.

McDowell is from North York, Ontario, also a 2003 born player. Lalonde is 18 years old and from Edmonton. McDowell got the start against the Melfort Mustangs on Friday just hours after the news of the trade was made. He allowed four goals through 27 minutes of play. Kozun said he stuck with the netminder and ended up with a 5-4 shootout victory.

“I thought he really rebounded in the third period. Obviously, we’re looking forward to having these two behind us,” Kozun said.

Defenceman Lucas Perry made his Hawk debut on the blue line in the game against Melfort. The 18-year-old was acquired by Nipawin from Humboldt earlier this month. Kozun said he liked what Perry showed in the game.

“You never know when you only get him in one pre-season game, but I thought he’s come in and worked hard all week and got accustomed to everything. I thought he did really, really well tonight. We’re looking forward to having Lucas on our team and see what he’s all about,” he added.

On the ice the Hawks finished the pre-season with a record of three wins and a loss. In the four games the team put up 15 goals. Second-year forward Braxton Buckberger scored in Friday’s home ice win. He said the players are excited to build on a strong exhibition season.

“It’s awesome to get another win under our belt going into the regular season,” he told northeastNOW after the game. “Especially against our rivals in Melfort. It’s a big confidence boost going into the regular season. It’s a tighter group, I like everything that’s going on so far.”

The Hawks will open the regular season on Friday in La Ronge against the Ice Wolves. The team will open their home schedule the following night when Laser-Hume and the Bombers visit the Centennial Arena.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork