The Nipawin Hawks will look to celebrate more goals as they travel to Yorkton for a matchup with the Terriers as part of a full slate of SJHL games. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Friday Night Lights

Hawks head to Yorkton for Friday night matchup with Terriers

Oct 11, 2024 | 12:17 PM

The Nipawin Hawks will play one game over the Thanksgiving long weekend, and it’s Friday in Yorkton against the Terriers.

Nipawin is optimistic going into the contest as the team got a boost on their blueline this week welcoming back 20-year-old defenseman Vito Biondo III and 2005-born defenseman Conor Ryan from Flin Flon. Both will be in the lineup in Yorkton. Head Coach Tad Kozun said bolstering their blueline has provided a spark to the Hawks young group.

“We got some help there for sure, suddenly you have two guys with junior ‘A’ experience,” Kozun said. “With Vito being here for two years and Conor being in Flin Flon and going through their run to the finals and playing big minutes there as well so just adding those two guys will help settle everything down. Even their presence in the locker room are going to help the young guys out.”

The Hawks have scored a league low 18 goals (tied with Estevan and Melfort) and given up 36 goals against, the most in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) early on this year. The veteran adds on defense should help the club climb out of those categories, but Kozun admitted the entire roster needs to find consistency from puck drop to the final buzzer.

“We need to put 60 minutes together; we can’t start behind the eight-ball like we have been. We need to be ready to go off the bat and continue through the whole game, just looking for some consistency,” he said.

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Nipawin is 1-6-1 on the year, the Terriers have started well winning five of their first six games.

Meeting one of four between the clubs begins at 7 p.m. at Westland Arena. The pregame show of Nipawin Chrysler Dodge Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio will begin at 6:45 p.m.