Hawks host Millionaires following week off

After a weeklong break due to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Showcase on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Hawks are back in action Saturday at the ‘Cage.’

Nipawin will host the Melville Millionaires for the second and final time this year. The first game was won by the Millionaires by the score of 3-0 on Oct. 29. The Hawks are coming off a stunning 4-1 win over the Melfort Mustangs last Saturday, Melville has played better after a rough stretch in December and January, but the Millionaires have won two in a row and five of their last seven. Hawks Head Coach Tad Kozun said the Hawks played better last week and need to continue into this weekend’s home-and-home set with Melville.

“We must make sure we have that same intensity and same execution rate that was obviously very high,” he said of the performance against the reigning champions where Nipawin scored four times on 12 shots.”

Prior to that victory, a second half surge against the Terriers in Yorkton came up short, but the Hawks held the high-powered Terriers to three goals and Melfort just one including several penalty kills over the weekend. Kozun said the club must continue to take care of their defensive zone if they are going to be successful over the final 17 games of the regular season.