The Hawks and Ice Wolves face off for the final time this SJHL season on Wednesday in Nipawin. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Spoiler Role

Hawks and Ice Wolves conclude season series Wednesday

Feb 26, 2025 | 12:28 PM

For the final time this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season the Hawks and Ice Wolves will faceoff at the Centennial Arena on Wednesday.

The Hawks are seeking their first win over La Ronge at home this season, Nipawin’s two wins over the Ice Wolves in seven previous games were both on the road. The Hawks are eliminated from the postseason race but have been playing their best hockey of the season. The Hawks swept their weekend road trip down south for the first time since 2017 and have won four games in a row.

Head Coach Tad Kozun said his team is excited about their game right now.

“The feeling around the room is pretty good right now,” he said after the team’s morning meeting. “We are obviously playing some really good hockey and playing the way we knew we could get to, so it’s definitely exciting for us.”

The Hawks now have 14 wins on the campaign with six games remaining. Kozun said with just two 20-year-old players on their roster, the club needs to continue to improve and set a tone for next season.

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“The biggest thing for us is now that we are having success we have to keep doing it. We can’t get away from what’s been making us successful, we have to continue down the same path and make sure we take care of the little details to make sure we continue having success,” Kozun said.

The Ice Wolves still have playoff hopes, La Ronge is just four points back of Kindersley for the eighth and final playoff berth. The Klippers are in Nipawin Friday before going to La Ronge for two games on the weekend. Kozun said the Ice Wolves will be ready Wednesday and the Hawks have a chance to continue to play spoiler.

“It’s another great test for our group going up against a team battling for their playoff lives. This is a team that is trying to get in, we have to be ready to go and bring our ‘A’ game tonight,” he concluded.

Faceoff is 7 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com