The Hawks will faceoff against Flin Flon on the road for the final time this SJHL season. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Manitoba Bound

Hawks make final trek to Flin Flon

Jan 8, 2025 | 12:10 PM

The Hawks will make their fourth and final trip to Flin Flon during this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season Wednesday with Nipawin looking for their first win in Manitoba since 2022.

On Sunday afternoon at the Centennial Arena, the Hawks clawed out a point in an overtime loss against the Battlefords North Stars, a game that saw Nipawin bounce back from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits. After a sluggish start, Head Coach Tad Kozun said the club needs to take the momentum built on Sunday’s final two periods.

“I thought we played really well in the second and third periods,” Kozun said after Wednesday’s game day meeting with his group. “We just have to keep building off that now.”

The Bombers have dominated the Hawks over the recent years. Nipawin has not won at the Whitney Forum since Feb. 15, 2022. Since then, the Hawks have dropped 19 straight games to Flin Flon. Kozun said defeating the three-time league finalists has been a thorn in their side the last few seasons.

“We’re going to go up there with a little bit of a different game plan here tonight. We have to make sure we can execute it the way I know we can. We have to make sure we are ready to go. It’s just one of those places you have to find a way,” he said.

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Nipawin has played 33 games so far this season. The Hawks have the first goal in the game just 11 times, winning three of those matchups. Kozun said the club has shown resiliency when getting down (like Sunday) but starts need to improve against top-ranked teams like Flin Flon.

“Especially against them, when we’ve gone up there, we’ve gotten behind the eight ball and haven’t been able to come back. We must make sure we have a good start right from the opening puck drop,” Kozun concluded.

Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The pregame show of Nipawin Chrysler Dodge Hawks Hockey begins at 7:15 p.m. on 750 Beach Radio.

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