The Nipawin Hawks were defeated by the Humboldt Broncos in five games in their first round SJHL playoff series Friday at the Elgar Petersen Arena. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Season Over

Hawks’ season comes to a close after loss to Broncos

Mar 25, 2023 | 10:49 AM

The Nipawin Hawks season is over after the Humboldt Broncos knocked them out of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with a 6-2 win in game five of their first round best-of-seven series.

Facing a must-win scenario after the Broncos came from behind to steal game four the Hawks started strong, had chances in the opening period at the Elgar Petersen Arena, but Nipawin couldn’t beat Jared Picklyk to take the lead.

With the game still tied 0-0 after the first period the Broncos scored in the second to take the lead, added a couple more before the middle frame ended and put the game out of reach with three more in the third period.

Hometown rookie Hawk Finley Radloff and F.X Bedard scored the Hawks goals in the loss. Head Coach Tad Kozun said he’s impressed of the way his team competed against the favoured Broncos.

“We took major strides this year. We really did, I am proud of the group for the way they battled,” he said on the last postgame show of the season.

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Nipawin was an 11^th place team last season and improved to seventh under Kozun in his first full year as a general manager and head coach. Since the day the Nipawin resident and former Hawk signed his contract with the team the goal was to get to the SJHL playoffs. The goal will help the group going forward with higher standards already set for next season.

“They now have a taste of it, the one thing you take away from this is remember the feeling you have right now,” Kozun said. “You don’t want to have it again and that’s what it takes.”

Another key element of being exposed in the playoffs is experience. Niapwin had one player on their roster, 20-year-old forward Carson Dobson, to play in more than one playoff series. Kozun witnessed some players on his roster climb the depth chart heading into next season while expectantly other dropped due to their play.

“You have to learn have to do that, and some guys just elevate their games and other guys don’t, that’s what separates the men from the boys. We want guys here that elevate and want to put everything into the game,” Kozun added.

Special teams were a key factor in Humboldt’s series win. In the three games at the Elgar Petersen Arena the Broncos scored six power-play goals in 12 tries.

Humboldt will now await their second round opponent while the Hawks prepare for the offseason.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork