Rookie defenceman Vito Biondo scored his first career SJHL goal Tuesday in a 10-2 Hawks win over Yorkton. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Tuesday thrashing

Hawks hit double-digits in trouncing of Terriers

Dec 7, 2022 | 10:36 AM

The Hawks scored early and often Tuesday in a 10-2 throttling of the Yorkton Terriers.

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) game was delayed an hour and 45 minutes due to the Terriers’ bus having mechanical issues. The destination wasn’t friendlier to Yorkton as the road was, Nipawin scored three times in the first period, four more times in the second frame, and another in trio of tallies in the third to reach double-digits for the first time since Nov. 13, 2017, when Nipawin beat Weyburn 10-1 at the Centennial Arena.

The club also won four straight games for the first time this season. Vito Biondo scored the sixth goal of the game in the second period; the rookie defenceman said the team feels great right now.

“All the boys are coming together, we’re all doing our part, that’s really what we need. We need everybody contributing and this shows what happens when everyone does,” Biondo said after the game.

Maquire Ratzlaff and Carson Dobson each scored twice, Ratzlaff has 19 goals this year, third in the SJHL behind Kian Bell of the Battlefords and Flin Flon’s Cole Dupereault. Dobson has nine goals on the year. Braxton Buckberger, Alex Ochitwa, Alyandro De Leon, Reese Malkewich, Rylan Lefebvre, and Biondo all added singles in the onslaught. Biondo’s second period marker was his first in the SJHL. The Lake Saint Louis, Mo., product was optimistic his first would come.

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“I knew it would come, it was just a matter of time, but it’s awesome to get it done,” he said.

Jackson Fellner won his fourth straight game in goal for Nipawin making 30 saves. Yorkton’s Caleb Allen was handed the loss allowing five goals on 26 Nipawin shots. Tysen Smith played in releief of Allen and allowed another five goals on 13 shots.

The Hawks power play scored twice on five chances; the penalty-kill was a perfect three for three.

Nipawin will now get set for a weekend home-and-home series with the SJHL’s best team, the Battlefords North Stars beginning Friday in North Battleford. Biondo said the club will begin preparing Wednesday.

“We are going to have to have some good practices before we leave and make sure we dial it in for this weekend. It’s definitely going to be a good test,” he said.

Friday’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. from Access Communications Centre in North Battleford. Rona Nipawin Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio will begin at 7:15 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork