The Hawks concluded the SJHL preseason with a win and three losses. (Clark Stork/NeNow Staff)

By Clark Stork

Season Opener

Hawks open SJHL regular season on the road in Flin Flon

Sep 20, 2024 | 12:00 PM

It’s opening night of the 2024-25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season with the Nipawin Hawks travelling to Flin Flon to meet the Bombers.

Nipawin was ninth in the SJHL standings a season ago and miss the playoffs by four points. The goal is getting back to the postseason, but the club will have to accomplish that goal with just six returning players and one 20-year-old. Head Coach and General Manager Tad Kozun admits the team is young, but he said that’s an exciting factor going into the season.

“We’re really happy with where we are at, we know we are going to be young,” he said following the preseason. “Six returning players is obviously very, very low for most teams in our league so we’re looking for the young guys to step up and take those steps and jump into high pressure roles off the start and see which guys can handle that.”

Tyson Endall returns in goal, Henry Smith is the lone 2004 born player on defence, plus hometown sniper Finley Radloff, Eric Hoiness, Mark Lafleur, and Mason Karakochuk are the core players coming back up front. The team also acquired 19-year-old forward Carter Anderson from the Calgary Canucks, the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) champions last year. Kozun expects him to help lead the young group with his national championship experience.

“We brought him in from Calgary at the start of the year and having that championship experience at the Centennial Cup. I think he is really going to help lead these young guys as well to make sure we’re on the right track and getting better everyday,” he said.

Season Opener

Hawks open SJHL regular season on the road in Flin Flon

2h ago

Municipal election nominations

Municipal election nomination period opening in local communities

21h ago

Weapons at school

Weapons found in Dillon school yard

Sep 19, 2024

The club still has 27 players in town and on the roster, that number will have to be trimmed soon. Nipawin did make a trade sending 2005 born forward Jacob Michelson to Portage of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) for a player development fee.

Kozun said the players that are still in the northeast Saskatchewan community have earned the right to still be here, at least through opening weekend.

“They are making decisions really, really hard on us, it’s a good problem to have and we’re looking forward to opening up Friday night. You look at our roster online right now there is a lot ‘R’s’ beside guys, but that’s something we’re really excited about,” he concluded.

Friday’s matchup with the Bombers begins at 6:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time. There will be no radio broadcast. Nipawin’s home opener on Saturday against La Ronge starts at 7 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.