By Clark Stork

Hawks win in return to action

Nipawin Hawks triumphant in return

Sep 25, 2021 | 9:36 AM

The Nipawin Hawks made Friday’s outcome in their first game in 307 days a little tighter than hoped but the team did pick up a victory over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

Nipawin opened the 2021 – 2022 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season with a 5-4 win in La Ronge.

Evan Bortis opened the scoring for the Hawks beating Alex Bell with a long wrist shot from the blueline just under eight minutes into the game. The Ice Wolves responded four minutes later when La Ronge captain Nolan Doell scored his first of two goals in the game to tie the contest 1-1.

Andrew Schaab restored Nipawin’s lead with his first of the season with just over six minutes to play in the first period.

Carson Dobson gave Nipawin a 3-1 lead late in the first period with his first of the season as well. Dobson said after the game getting back to playing again was exciting.

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“It was great to be back, it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten to play meaningful games,” he said.

The second period saw no scoring allowing the Hawks to enter the final frame with a two-goal cushion however the Ice Wolves wouldn’t go quietly. Doell scored his second of the game on a 5-on-3 power-play to make it 3-2. Nate Looft beat Chase Hamm in the Hawks’ net just past the 12-minute mark to knot the contest at 3-3.

The deadlock was short-lived, Nipawin’s Liam Bell beat his namesake Alex Bell just 25 seconds after the Hawks gave up the lead. Just nine seconds after that Nipawin rookie Phil Laberge picked off a La Ronge pass, and he deposited the puck into the Ice Wolves net for a 5-3 lead.

The Hawks would need it as Kole Christensson tapped in a late goal to make it 5-4 but the Ice Wolves couldn’t find the equalizer. Dobson said the win wasn’t a great performance, but the team is happy with taking home two points.

“We had our moments, we’re going to give up some goals after that long of a break but it’s good to be able to get some back and pull off the win tonight,” Dobson said.

Hamm picked up his first career victory in net for the Hawks making 27 saves. Laberge finished with a goal and three assists. Bortis and Bell each added assists for two-point games.

Nipawin will host La Ronge Saturday night for the back end of a home-and-home series. Dobson said the team is excited to go home and play in front of a full crowd for the first time since March of 2019.

“We’re super pumped,” he said. “It’s going to be awesome. The ‘Cage’ is going to be rocking for sure after the big break. We’ve got great fans and it’s going to be awesome.”

Faceoff is 7:30 p.m.

Clark.Stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter : @ClarkStork