The Hawks and Mustangs faced off for the final time this SJHL season Friday in Melfort, a 5-2 win for the reigning champions. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Too much to Handle

Hawks fall in Melfort in final road game of SJHL season

Mar 8, 2025 | 1:34 PM

The Hawks wrapped up their road schedule of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season with a 5-2 loss in Melfort to the Mustangs on Friday.

In the season series between the two clubs, the Mustangs won seven of the eight games this year, with two going to overtime or a shootout.

Nipawin had a fast start, with Mason Karakochuk scoring just six seconds into the game giving the Hawks a quick 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the second period, when Melfort tied the game but just over a minute later Karakochuk scored again, giving the second-year Hawk forward 20 goals on the campaign.

The relentless reigning champions heavily outshot the Hawks all game and finally busted through with four goals in the third period to secure the win including a late empty-net tally.

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Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun spoke on the postgame show of Nipawin Chrysler Dodge Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio for the final time this season as Nipawin is not going to the playoffs. The Hawks have played inspired hockey lately and will lose just two players to aging out.

“The biggest thing for us is making sure that we can continue to take those next steps and keep this group together,” he said. “When you look at how we’ve been playing, even tonight, to be in a game where obviously they outshot us and they were coming in waves, they are the number one team in our league for a reason and we were right there with them until the final four minutes.”

With two home games remaining the Hawks have 16 wins but six in their last eight contests. They had won two in a row including snapping the Millionaires’ 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. Kozun admits it’s disappointing to look to next year, but the entire organization is excited about the potential next season and beyond.

“We can return everybody on our leadership group as well. We must keep these guys engaged over the summer and make sure they know what the feeling is of how we’re winning games right now,” he added.

Another positive for the group is they managed to beat every team except Battlefords. Nipawin lost two games in overtime against the North Stars but managed at least one win against the rest including Melfort and Flin Flon. Kozun said all these moments are part of the process and what the staff is working towards, making Nipawin a powerhouse again.

“I’d be lying if I sat here and said the first half wasn’t tough,” Kozun admitted. “It’s nice to get the rewards these last couple months because they can see, okay we can see where we are at and where this is going.”

Nipawin hosts Flin Flon on Tuesday, and Humboldt is at the Centennial Arena on Friday to close the season.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com