The Mustangs and Hawks cracked the lid on their longstanding SJHL rivalry on Friday at the Northern Lights Palace. (Image Credit: Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Arch rivals open the season

Hawks grounded in season opener in Melfort

Sep 19, 2026 | 10:52 AM

For the second Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season Nipawin was in Melfort to kick off the year, but unlike last campaign, the Mustangs took care of business on home ice doubling the Hawks 6-3 Friday.

Nipawin had a couple early chances to get ahead on the road, but could not capitalize, Dru Mushumanski scored twice in the first to give Melfort a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks did claw back and tie the game 2-2 early in the second on goals from Austin Mori-Goodman and Mason Karakochuk, but Luke Dekay restored the Mustangs lead in the second and Melfort never looked back. Melfort scored three times on the powerplay and a shorthanded goal too in the win. Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun pointed to special teams as a large part of the club’s demise in game one.

“Our penalty kill let too many chances in; too many grade ‘A’ opportunities for them on the powerplay. When you are going to give up backdoor tap ins all day it makes it pretty easy for them and I thought we had a lot of missed opportunities on our powerplays,” Kozun said after the game.

The Mustangs managed to boost their lead to 6-2 before rookie Hawks forward Porter Nickason scored a powerplay goal late for Nipawin to cap the scoring.

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Nipawin will travel to North Battleford Saturday to face the North Stars. Kozun said there is lots of hockey left and the team will make changes going into the Access Communications Centre.

“We are going to learn from it, if you sit here and dwell on the first game of the season, did I think it was good enough, no chance. Was it up to where we want to be? No chance, but you need to look at some things, break it down, see what areas need work and we will address those for Saturday,” he added.

Madex Kabrud made his Hawks’ debut in net for Nipawin making 20 saves, Melfort’s Luke McKechnie earned the win stopping 24 shots.

Faceoff Saturday is 7:30 p.m., the game will be broadcasted on 750 Beach Radio starting at 7:15 p.m.

by Clark Stork

Hawks grounded in season opener in Melfort

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