The Hawks tangled with the Bruins again Saturday in Nipawin during SJHL play. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Third period collapse

Hawks blow third period lead again in loss

Dec 10, 2023 | 12:39 PM

The Nipawin Hawks were edged 4-3 in a shootout by the Bruins Saturday as Estevan took both games on the weekend at the Centennial Arena in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play.

After dropping a 4-2 decision Friday the Hawks soared from opening puck drop in the rematch, built a 2-0 lead in the first period courtesy Landon Pappas and Maguire Ratzlaff, but two third period goals from Owen Barrow stunned Nipawin and the crowd at the ‘Cage’ while leading to Nipawin’s fourth blown third period lead this season. Head Coach Tad Kozun said the final frame let downs have taken their toll on the club.

“Probably couldn’t chalk up a first period much better, a couple powerplay goals, obviously outshoot them and everything kept unravelling and snowballing from there,” Kozun asserted after the game.

Nipawin gave up leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the loss Friday, after the Bruins cut the lead to 2-1 Saturday the Hawks restored their two goal cushion when Braxton Buckberger scored his 12^th in the middle period.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, and their fans the two goal margin wasn’t enough to secure the win. Barrow’s two goals forced overtime; Estevan won in the shootout. For Kozun, he said the disappointment of the weekend is elevated after Nipawin had scored a dozen goals in back-to-back wins going into the matchups with the Bruins.

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“We’re definitely searching for answers again here, you think you find them like you said, you score 12 goals in two games you think we’re going to turn a corner, but we’re right back here at square one,” Kozun said.

The Hawks have played 30 games this SJHL season, they have yet to win three games in a row. A positive for the SJHL club is they haven’t been mired in extended losing streaks either, dropping three in a row just once in the first half.

Nipawin will close the 2023 portion of their schedule on Dec. 15 and 16 with a home-and-home series against the surging Mustangs. Kozun said the staff will begin to prepare for the weekend before the players leave for the Christmas break.

“Levi [Stuart, assistant coach] and I are going to get back to work and get the guys going. Like we’ve said, with the firepower we have up front right now this isn’t where we want to be,” he concluded.

Friday’s game at the Northern Lights Palace will faceoff at 7:30 p.m., the pregame show on 750 Beach Radio begins at 7:15 p.m. Saturday the teams meet in Nipawin.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

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