Nathan Claydon made 42 saves for the Hawks in a 4-2 loss to the Battlefords Saturday in SJHL action. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Halfway there

Second half sinks Hawks in North Battleford

Jan 6, 2025 | 5:37 AM

The Nipawin Hawks played a perfect road game for 30 minutes Saturday in North Battleford, but unfortunately the last half cost them in a 4-2 loss to the North Stars.

Playing their first game of the 2025 calendar year and their 32^nd overall this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season the Hawks sawed off the first period against the fifth ranked North Stars and took the lead on a powerplay goal early in the second period from Eric Hoiness. Keeping the Battlefords at bay for the entire first half, the North Stars scored twice in the back half of the middle period and took a 3-1 lead in the third period before icing the game with an empty net tally late. Head Coach Tad Kozun was pleased with his team’s start, but the finish lacked effort.

“We got the lead then it was like we quit playing,” he said on the postgame show on Beach Radio. “We were flat footed, we weren’t moving pucks up, we weren’t supporting the puck very well, then we get to the third period, and we were just going through the motions.”

Hoiness now has five goals on the year. Carter Anderson scored his Nipawin leading 13^th goal of the SJHL year with outside two minutes to play cutting the lead to 3-2. With starting netminder Nathan Claydon on the bench for an attacker. After the Hawks got Claydon out again the North Stars sealed the game in the final minute.

“We didn’t simplify it enough tonight; we tried to be too fancy. We weren’t supporting the puck well enough. We have to get into better spots. Overall, the effort wasn’t there enough for the entire game,” Kozun continued.

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Claydon made 42 saves in the loss.

The Hawks will host the North Stars Sunday for an afternoon game at the Centennial Arena. The Hawks will seek their first win against the Battlefords in their final matchup of the year. Kozun said the club needs to regroup following the quick turnaround and be ready to welcome the fans back to the ‘Cage’ in 2025.

“There is no excuses, we know we have to be better. We know we have to be ready to go on home ice tomorrow afternoon,” he concluded.