The Hawks and Terriers will close their season series Friday in Yorkton in a massive SJHL showdown with playoff implications. (Image Credit: Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

One last chance

Hawks head to Yorkton with sights on third overall

Feb 27, 2026 | 11:02 AM

It is a must-win matchup for the Hawks Friday in Yorkton as Nipawin tries to catch up to the Terriers.

There is just five games left for the Hawks on the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) schedule, and up to the second seed is open for the taking between the Hawks, the Battlefords, Yorkton, and Weyburn, who are all looking for points.

Nipawin is two points back of the Terriers, but has also played two more games. Nipawin hasn’t beaten Yorkton in three tries this season, either making the fourth and final matchup crucial for the Hawks according to head coach Tad Kozun.

“They are a team we are right there battling with, and it’s obviously a massive game for us,” Kozun said of the final meeting of the year with the Terriers. “We have had a couple days of work, and we talked about starting on time.”

Kozun was eluding to the first period in Flin Flon, during the Hawks’ last game on Tuesday. Nipawin spotted the Bombers a 3-0 first-period lead before adjusting and outscoring Flin Flon 2-1 over the final two periods. Nipawin lost 4-2, but Kozun liked lots about the game. He said if they bring that effort into Westland Arena, the Hawks should come away with the win.

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“We want to get home ice, and we’ve got to keep pushing for that. With Yorkton two up on us, with a couple in hand, we need to find a way so we can continue to climb over the final five games. There is nothing saying we are locked in here or this spot, we’ve got to be ready. Yeah, we have clinched but we need to continue to push,” he added.

The teams last met in Yorkton on Feb. 1 when the Terriers escaped with a 4-3 win. Nipawin also lost both games versus Yorkton at the Centennial Arena. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. while the pregame show on 750 Beach Radio begins at 6:45 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com