Nipawin looks to round out their weekend with a win in Yorkton in the lone SJHL game Sunday. (Image Credit: Clark Stork/northeast Staff)

By Clark Stork

Battle for fourth

Hawks hit highway to Yorkton seeking first victory over the Terriers

Feb 1, 2026 | 8:49 AM

The Nipawin Hawks are on the road Sunday afternoon looking for a win over the Yorkton Terriers in the lone Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) game.

Nipawin has yet to beat the Terriers this season. Yorkton edged the Hawks 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 28, and the Terriers outlasted Nipawin 7-5 on Jan. 16, both at the Centennial Arena. Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun said his group feels they have given up both games against Yorkton.

“Both those games on home ice, we had total control, but the Terriers are an offensive powerhouse in the league this year and they managed to build the wins off their rush, it wasn’t defensive zone breakdowns, it was all given to them off the rush, especially the most recent game,” Kozun said.

The Hawks have had some trouble in recent games keeping the puck out of the net. After giving up seven to Yorkton on Jan. 16, the Hawks lost 6-5 in a shootout to Melville. Nipawin blanked Warman 6-0 last Friday but followed that with another seven allowed against Flin Flon. Nipawin responded on Friday on home ice with another shutout, this time of Melfort, but Kozun is still seeking consistency from his group.

“When we are on and structured, as we have shown, we are a strong defensive unit. For most of this season we had the lowest amount of goals given up,” Kozun said. “That obviously isn’t the case anymore as we have had some high scoring games and lost some games with big outcomes. We need to find the consistency every night in all three aspects of the game.”

Renowned buck

Biggar hunter who shot world record holding Hanson Buck remembered after death

1h ago

Crime watch

Man, woman from Watson charged after poppy box theft

2h ago

Big shoes to fill

Evergreen Golf Course announces new head professional

2h ago

The game is also a crucial one for the SJHL standings, the Hawks sit in fourth place starting the day, just two points up on Yorkton who has a game in hand. Kozun said this is as close as his group has seen to a postseason game this season.

“This is a big game, arguably the biggest of the year to date. We can answer the bell and be ready to go, head home in fourth up by four, or we fall back int out lapses, give this one up and the Terriers leapfrog us with an extra game. It’s a massive one no doubt,” Kozun added.

Faceoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Westland Arena. The pregame show of Nipawin Chrysler Dodge Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio will begin at 2:45 p.m.

—

Clark.Stork@pattisonmedia.com