Nipawin netminder Jackson Fellner celebrates his first career SJHL shutout Friday at the Centennial Arena. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Fellner's First

Fellner, Hawks shutout Millionaires

Jan 14, 2023 | 9:27 AM

The Nipawin Hawks have their first shutout of the season and Jackson Fellner has his first in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) after a 4-0 victory over the Melville Millionaires Friday.

Fellner, 19, made 35 saves in the win that pushed the Hawks’ record back to a .500 winning percentage at 17-17-1-1 on the year. Fellner said finally getting his first shutout in his 46^th career game is special.

“It means so much,” he said after the game. “Coming from last year in Weyburn it wasn’t a great year and bouncing back and bouncing across teams, it really means a lot to me.”

The Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the first period spotting Fellner a 2-0 lead, Nipawin Captain Maguire Ratzlaff reached the 20-goal plateau and Braxton Buckberger added his 11^th goal of the year in the first period.

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Melville pressed for most of the second period, with some help of several powerplays, but couldn’t solve Fellner. Joel Mabin cushioned the lead to 3-0 before Alex Johnson sealed the win with an empty net goal late in the game. Fellner was quick to credit his teammates alongside his strong play.

“Great group of guys, hard workers, great grinders, they know how to put the puck in the net and I like that,” he added.

The Hawks have beaten Melville four times this season and will meet the Millionaires again on Wednesday at the Horizon Credit Union Centre. Nipawin’s next action is Tuesday when the team takes on the Yorkton Terriers in Wadena. Yorkton is another team trying to hunt down the Hawks for one of the final playoff spots. Fellner said the club’s gameplan won’t change in the neutral site matchup.

“We just have put our head adown and go to work just like we have these last two nights,” Fellner concluded.

Both games on Tuesday and Wednesday will be 7 p.m. face-offs, both games will be broadcasted on 750 Beach Radio beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork