Damon Cunningham face 45 shots for the Hawks against Flin Flon in Sunday matinee SJHL action in Nipawin. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Not giving up

Hawks doubled by Bombers; swept in season series

Mar 11, 2024 | 11:57 AM

The Hawks battled until the end in their final meeting of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season against the Flin Flon Bombers, but it wasn’t enough as Nipawin lost 6-3.

The Bombers took all six games in the season series and have won the last 11 games between the two clubs dating back to the opening weekend of last year. Despite already being eliminated from postseason contention Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun said his team played hard but gave up four Flin Flon goals in the second that was too much to overcome.

“The guys never gave up and we just kept pushing but it was kind of start well, take a little bit off then get back to playing the right way. Obviously when you take a little bit of time off against a team like this it’s going to come back and haunt you,” he said after the game.

Following a scoreless first period, the Bombers took the lead, Nipawin tied the game at 1-1, but a pair of powerplay goals for Flin Flon provided a two goal cushion that the Hawks couldn’t bounce back from. Nipawin did cut the third period lead to 5-3 before an empty netter the Bombers sealed the game.

Through the six games between the teams this season, Flin Flon scored 10 powerplay goals on 33 opportunities, Nipawin managed just two in 27 chances. Kozun admitted special teams have been a factor all year long, especially against the explosive Bombers attack.

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“You look back on that one game in January where they beat us 4-2, all four goals were on the powerplay,” Kozun added. “We can play with those guys five-on-five, but they seem to get those powerplays when they need them, and we obviously didn’t.”

The Hawks have a pair of games remaining on the schedule, Tuesday they travel to Melville to meet the Millionaires for the final time this season before closing the year at home Friday against the La Ronge Ice Wolves. Kozun said he still expects his team to compete and if they can start like the players did Sunday afternoon, he’s confident Nipawin can get a victory.

“We have to turn our attention to Tuesday and make sure we’re ready to go and bring that effort we had in the first period. If we can bring that effort for 60 minutes, you’re going to come out on the right end of the hockey game,” Kozun concluded.

Faceoff is 7 p.m. from the CN Community Centre.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

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