The Weyburn Red Wings drew first blood in their quarterfinal SJHL playoff series with Nipawin. (Image Credit: Submitted photo/Richard Petersen))

By Clark Stork

First game jitters

Early deficit too much to overcome for Hawks in game one      

Mar 21, 2026 | 10:21 AM

The Nipawin Hawks showed some early playoff jitters, and the veteran laden Weyburn Red Wings took advantage in game one of their first round series Friday at the ‘Cage.’

Aidan Mohan and Dion Schraeder scored first period goals, Roan Burgess added another in the second frame and the Hawks couldn’t come back falling 4-2 on opening night of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) quarterfinals in Nipawin. Tad Kozun admitted his group, who have not been in the playoffs for three seasons said they were nervous off the start.

“In the first period I thought maybe the nerves got to us a little bit, we missed a few passes, didn’t bury our chances early. I thought our start was really good and we had some chances where we missed the net too,” he said after the game, just the sixth postseason game the Nipawin, Sask. product has coached in his four year career.

The Hawks did get themselves back in the game, two-time Nipawin most valuable player Eric Hoiness cut the lead to 3-1 in the third for his first career SJHL playoff goal in his first game. Jack Janzen made it a one goal game with under a minute remaining, also in his debut. The equalizer didn’t come and Will Munro capped a four point game with an empty net tally late to cap the scoring and give last season’s finalists an early series lead and home ice advantage. Kozun was quick to credit the Red Wings playoff personality.

“They did a real good job of blocking shots tonight,” he said. “That was probably one of the biggest differences in the game. We fired over 40 shots on net, but they probably blocked just as many. We’ve got to find a way to get those pucks to the net for second and third opportunities.”

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Game two will be played Saturday at the Centennial Arena starting at 7 p.m. before the series shifts to Weyburn for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday. Kozun fell short of saying the rematch is must win, but going to Weyburn down two games is not ideal.

“We’ve got our feet wet now; guys understand what playoff hockey is. We will change a few things for tomorrow and have a little different game plan we can utilize. Overall, I thought it was a good hockey game, and we were there right until the end,” he concluded.

Game two on 750 Beach Radio will begin at 6:45 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com