The Nipawin Hawks travel to Notre Dame to meet the Hounds Wednesday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Road Trip

Hawks embark on southern road swing

Oct 5, 2022 | 4:43 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will begin a three-games-in-three-days road trip in Wilcox Wednesday, Oct. 5 against the Notre Dame Hounds.

Nipawin has a record of three wins, three regulation losses, and a loss in overtime to Notre Dame so far this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season. After a busy start to the campaign, head coach Tad Kozun said the club has longed for some practice time, and the group was able to refocus on some key issues.

“We got back to our basics that we needed to shore up,” Kozun said. “We watched some video with the guys and went over a few things. I expect us to be a lot better and see some improvements in a lot of areas of our game.”

The Hawks are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Flin Flon Bombers on Saturday in northern Manitoba.

Nipawin received some positive news this week, that 18-year-old defenseman Tre Fouquette has been reassigned from the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders. Fouquette was acquired from the La Ronge Ice Wolves late last season and spent half the year in Nipawin. Kozun said he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the second-year defender, but he expects a steadying presence.

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“We’re obviously happy to have Tre back in the lineup. He’s going to be a huge addition for us and we’re excited to get it going here tonight,” Kozun said.

The SJHL has balanced the season’s schedule and realigned the schedule. With playoff positions based on the top team down to the eighth team, Kozun said giving up an extra point to Notre Dame back on Sept. 30 at the Centennial Arena still resonates with the coaching staff.

“We just played them recently and gave up the extra point in our own barn,” he said. “The fires better be burning. It’s October and not a huge game, but every game is big, especially with the way the schedule is this year.”

Faceoff Wednesday is 8 p.m., and the pregame show on Rona Nipawin Hawks Hockey on Beach Radio begins at 7:45 p.m. The Hawks are in Weyburn on Thursday and will conclude the trip in Estevan on Friday.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork