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Ronan Buckberger celebrates his overtime winning goal Saturday in Humboldt. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)
Slaying a dragon

Buckberger plays overtime hero in Humboldt

Oct 15, 2023 | 11:17 AM

The Nipawin Hawks have their first win at the Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt since Nov. 30, 2019, after a 3-2 overtime victory Saturday in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

Ronan Buckberger was the overtime hero scoring on a Nipawin power-play in period four as the Hawks rebound from Friday’s home-ice loss to the Broncos. Buckberger said the win was big for a couple of reasons.

“It’s big to step ahead of these guys, get our two points out of the weekend at least, and get our first one at the Elgar Petersen [Arena] in a long time,” the 17-year-old told northeastNOW after the game.

Humboldt opened the scoring in the first period, but the Hawks clawed back scoring twice in the second. Hudson Cameron scored his fourth goal of the year, Nipawin’s league-leading fifth shorthanded tally of the year, while Braxton Buckberger slapped home his fourth as well during a Hawks power-play.

Humboldt tied the game with a man advantage of their own in the third period, but Buckberger was able to seal the victory with Nipawin up a man with his fourth goal of his rookie campaign as well.

“You have to think of this as the first of many,” Buckberger added. “Hopefully we’ll come into this barn and get a couple more points this year. Take it as a job, and yeah it was good to get two tonight.”

The Hawks had five power plays overall, Humboldt also had five scoring once.

Damon Cunningham continues to pay well in the Hawks’ net making 38 stops, Benjamin Motew made 30 saves in the loss.

These teams will meet Nov. 3 and 4 in a home-and-home again to cap the season series.

Next for the Hawks is a home matchup Tuesday against the La Ronge Ice Wolves, a team they lost to on the first weekend of the season. Buckberger said the team will have retribution on their minds heading into the game.

“Obviously they took it to us when we went to La Ronge earlier this year. We must beat them this time around, especially at home. We’ve got to impress our fans,” he said.

Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Centennial Arena.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork