Maguire Ratzlaff scored his first goal of the season in a 7-4 loss to the La Ronge Ice Wolves. (Photo/Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Opening Night

Hawks fall behind early, lose season opener

Sep 17, 2022 | 8:54 AM

The Nipawin Hawks started the 2022-23 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) sluggish, and it cost the hockey club a win in La Ronge against the Ice Wolves Friday.

Coming off a positive pre-season the Hawks travelled to La Ronge for the first of a 54-game regular season that the home team won 7-4. The Ice Wolves scored three times in the opening 10 minutes of the game and led 3-0 after the first period.

Nipawin rebounded in the second, Alex Johnson and Bryden Kiesman scored their first goals of the season to cut the lead to 3-2. La Ronge restored a two-goal cushion shortly thereafter.

The Hawks clawed back again, Braxton Buckberger scored making the game 4-3, and newly named captain Maguire Ratzlaff tied the game on a powerplay goal with just under five minutes left in the middle period.

The Ice Wolves jumped back in front before the second period ended giving themselves a 5-4 lead going to the third period, La Ronge scored twice more including an empty net goal to seal the win in their home opener.

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“We put up four goals, that should get the job done on most nights,” Johnson said after the game. “It’s our first night, we take this as a lesson learned and move on.”

North York, Ontario product Nolan McDowell started in goal for Nipawin, in his SJHL debut he was credited with 45 saves and took the loss.

Johnson said he was pleased with the teams will to comeback and sees that as a bright spot from the game.

“Last year we would probably pack it in and warm up the bus, but this year it’s nice to see the guys fight back, work as a team, and make stuff happen,” he said.

Special teams were a key ingredient in the Hawks 11^th place finish last season, the new campaign didn’t start well for Nipawin either, the Hawks allowed three powerplay goals against in six shorthanded situations, they scored once in seven opportunities plus Nipawin gave up a shorthanded goal that turned out to be the winner. Johnson said with less than 24 hours to go until the Hawks home opener the team will look ahead to Flin Flon.

“We’re excited to get back to the Cage in Nipawin. The fans there are unreal, we’re really excited to show them what we’ve got this year and bounce back,” Johnson said.

Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork