Gage Roberts earned his first SJHL win and shutout on Saturday in Humboldt. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Night to Remember

Roberts backstops Hawks to first regulation win

Nov 17, 2024 | 12:26 PM

Gage Roberts made 36 saves Saturday for Nipawin leading the Hawks to a 1-0 win over Humboldt in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) action.

Coming off a resilient 4-3 shootout loss Friday, the Hawks felt confident improvements were coming with their young roster including the goaltending, that stood true at the Elgar Petersen Arena where the 18-year-old Fort McMurray, Alta. product made several highlight reel saves to help the Hawks pick up their first regulation win of the season and Roberts earn his first junior hockey shutout. He said there was a sense of relief among the group after the game.

“It really means a lot, as a team things haven’t been going our way now, we have some games under our belts, we got three points this weekend and it’s something we can build off coming into Tuesday,” he told northeastNOW.

Carter Anderson scored the lone goal of the game early in the second period on a breakaway set up by Eric Hoiness and Mason Karakochuk, Roberts did the rest including assisting the team kill all six penalties they took putting Humboldt on the powerplay. Roberts said the team was great in front of him.

“Once that first save came in, I just saw the puck well and it translated to the game, it was beautiful. Loved our penalty killing, it was great,” he added.

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The Hawks had six chances of their own on the man advantage, also failed to capitalize on the opportunities.

Nipawin still remains in 12^th place in the standings but taking three points on the weekend after visiting Melfort and Humboldt, plus getting the win to snap a 10 game losing streak. Once the buzzer sounded at the end of regulation the club surrounded their rookie netminder to relish in the win.

“Being my first junior win, I am going to remember this forever,” he said. “It was so cool having the boys come around me saying good job and stuff, plus having our first regulation win this year, it feels great.”

Nipawin hosts the Battlefords North Stars Tuesday at the Centennial Arena.