By Clark Stork

Hawks Hockey

Bruins barrage too much for Hawks

Feb 3, 2022 | 6:38 AM

The Nipawin Hawks hung with the Centennial Cup hosting Estevan Bruins Wednesday, but were eventually outgunned by the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s (SJHL) most lethal offensive team.

Estevan opened a three-goal lead in the first period at Affinity Place and cruised to a 7-2 victory over Nipawin to sweep the season series between the two combatants.

Despite going down 3-0 in the first period the Hawks bounced back and got to within a goal of the Bruins. Carson Dobson scored late in the first period and Christian Albertson picked up his team leading 12^th goal early in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Bruins restored their two-goal cushion just past the halfway point of regulation time. The Hawks were granted a four-minute powerplay late in the period but couldn’t generate any chances to draw the game closer. Head Coach Tad Kozun said that was the turning point in the game.

“I thought our second period was really good and then we get that powerplay at the end and it completely deflated us,” Kozun admitted on the postgame show. “We have to get our powerplay figured out. That’s on us as coaches, we’ve got to get the right group out there that can start clicking and finding the back of the net because our powerplay hasn’t been good enough lately.”

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Leading 4-2 going to the third period, the Bruins took over in the final frame scoring three more times in the opening seven minutes to blow the game open.

Kozun said he pointed back to the double-minor in the second period.

“We come out in the second period and get within a goal, we’re playing good hockey but then it just seemed like the wheels fell off,” he added.

The Bruins possess the SJHL’s top penalty killing percentage and lead the league with 12 shorthanded goals. Nipawin couldn’t capitalize on five powerplay chances while Estevan scored once in four opportunities.

Chase Hamm was solid despite allowing seven goals on 33 shots in the Nipawin net. Harmon Laser-Hume turned aside all six shots he faced in relief of Hamm. Boston Bilous had a lighter workload only needing 19 saves in the win.

Kozun said in the prior two games against the Bruins, including a 2-1 shootout loss on Jan. 18 at home, he was happy with the effort the team put towards Estevan who vaulted over Humboldt in the SJHL standings and into first place.

“They’re a good hockey team, I thought we battled really well but then in the third period we didn’t have anything left. We played with them for two periods, it gets frustrated to see that third period get dwindled away,” he said.

Nipawin is off until Saturday when they travel to Humboldt to meet the Broncos. Faceoff is 7:30 p.m. at the Elgar Petersen Arena.

The pregame show on Saskatchewan’s Beach Radio 750 begins at 7:15 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork