The Nipawin Hawks were eliminated from the SJHL playoff chase Friday in Melfort. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Outside looking in

Hawks playoff push falls short; eliminated in Melfort

Mar 9, 2024 | 4:03 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will not be participating in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playoffs for the second time in three years after Friday’s 7-2 loss in Melfort mathematically quashed their postseason hopes.

Needing to win all four of their final games and get some help the Hawks didn’t start strong versus their rivals, fell behind 3-0 in the first period and didn’t get closer than a two goal deficit all night. Head Coach Tad Kozun said a sluggish start forced a goaltender change and an ineffective four minute man advantage proved costly.

“In the first period we let it get completely away from us,” he said on the postgame show. “We obviously left Tyson Endall out to dry with too many missed assignments and then we had some powerplays, we didn’t generate anything off of those.”

Facing a three goal deficit after the opening period against the Mustangs, Melfort pushed the lead to 4-0 in the middle period.

The Hawks cut the lead to 4-1 with their 14^th shorthanded goal of the season, Braeden Jockims scored the goal, his 12^th marker of the campaign. Evan Forrest cut the lead to 4-2 early in the third period, but Nipawin couldn’t climb any closer therefore knocking their rivals out of the top eight.

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The loss and results throughout the year were disappointing for the Hawks who had high expectations this season, sitting in fifth place at the Christmas break, Nipawin won two of three to start 2024, went on an eight-game skid, and never found their footing leading to a potential 10^th place finish.

“We haven’t won two games in a row since November, so when you are doing you are playing .500 hockey and losing more than you are winning you are going to be on the wrong end of it and that’s where we are now,” Kozun continued on Beach Radio.

Endall suffered the loss in net giving up three goals on eight shots, Damon Cunningham came in for relief and he stopped 26 of 29. Melfort scored once into an empty net.

Since Nipawin won the SJHL championship in 2018, they have had eight home playoff games. Last year they played two at the Centennial Arena before losing in five games to Humboldt. Kozun, a Nipawin product and former Hawk said the recent struggles aren’t easy to take and work for next season begins now.

“It’s a let down, you let down the town of Nipawin. We have to get back, this town deserves playoff hockey and deserves a winning team. That’s where we want to get to, we are working hard to get back on track to where we want to go,” he said.

The Hawks have three games remaining including hosting the Flin Flon Bombers on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The team is hosting a skate with the players after the game and kids are asked to bring their skates and helmets.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @ClarkStork