The Hawks celebrate Clayton Nesbitt's overtime winning goal Tuesday in North Battleford. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Hawks outshoot the Stars

Hawks win wild one in the Battlefords

Nov 5, 2025 | 12:46 PM

The Hawks snapped their four game road losing Tuesday with a wild 7-6 overtime win in the Battlefords over the North Stars.

Facing each other for the first time this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, Nipawin has struggled with the North Stars beating the Battlefords just twice in the last five years.

The Hawks were able to secure the first goal and a lead in the first period, something Nipawin hasn’t done in their previous four road losses. Finley Radloff opened the scoring in the first period giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived; the North Stars tied the game just two minutes later. Tiernan Ryan restored Nipawin’s lead with his second career SJHL goal.

The Battlefords tied the game early in the second period, the Hawks responded again scoring twice. Eric Hoiness and Mason Karakochuk each added goals putting the Hawks up 4-2. The North Stars again surged back knotting the score 4-4 before the second period concluded.

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Early in the third period Jack Drake gave Nipawin another lead with his second of the season. North Battleford then scored back-to-back goals to take the lead for the first time in the game. Nipawin was able to claw back forcing overtime on Noah Derouin’s second goal of the year.

Rookie Nipawin defenceman Clayton Nesbitt notched the winning goal in overtime. The Calgary, Alta. product said the win was big for the team heading into a 10-day break.

“I think it’s huge for the boys. We’ve been in a little bit of a slump trying to find ourselves again, so I think it’s good to get some confidence going into the break and come back stronger,” Nesbitt said.

Hoiness and Karakochuk each led the offensive onslaught with four points each including a goal and three assists. Linemate Konnor Watson chipped in three assists too. Nesbitt, who has one career goal said he has never scored an overtime winning goal in his career at any level.

“It was four-on-four, so we were playing man on man, and I saw the puck get broken up,” he said. “I looked back and I was the next guy up, so I am like, drive the net hard, create some chaos and see what happens, puck ends up in the back of the net.”

The victory was Nipawin’s first in the Battlefords since Oct. 7, 2023.

Many players will head home before the club resumes practice next Tuesday. Nesbitt said the break is coming at a good time.

“It’s some pressure off us. We know we are a good team so we will come back stronger and build off this win,” Nesbitt added.

Nipawin will host Melfort Nov. 14 in their next game.