The penalties piled up in SJHL action in Nipawin Friday between the Hawks and North Stars. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Still the champs

Hawks blanked by North Stars

Oct 7, 2023 | 9:44 AM

The Hawks were shutout 3-0 by the Battlefords North Stars and Justen Maric Friday night in Nipawin in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play.

The loss stopped Nipawin’s two-game win streak and allowed the reigning SJHL champions to continue their dominance over the Hawks in recent years. Captain Maguire Ratzlaff said after the game the that the home team couldn’t generate any consistency together in the game.

“We got some momentum going and then a couple shots, I think their goalie played well,” the Abbotsford, B.C. product said after the game. “We couldn’t seem to string a couple shifts together, and we had some momentum like I said, but we couldn’t pull a full 60 minutes out of it.”

The North Stars got a pair of goals in the first period from Nate Burgeson and Owen Underhill and that’s all the visitors would need thanks to Maric, fresh off a stop in Portland with the Western Hockey League’s Winterhawks, the 19-year-old made 37 stops in his 2023/24 SJHL debut for the shutout. Rylan Williams added the capper late in the third.

The game consisted of 18 power-plays in total, including the Hawks sputtering on all eight they had, the North Stars scored once in 10 tries on the mad advantage. Ratzlaff said Nipawin has had early penalty problems in the first handful of games this year and they need to adjust.

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“We’ve had a little struggle staying disciplined, but I think that’s most teams to be honest, I think the penalties are a little bit higher, but we must find a way to adapt our game. Stay more disciplined and focus on what we can control,” he said.

Damon Cunningham took the loss for Nipawin allowing three goals on 35 shots.

The teams will meet again Saturday in North Battleford to cap the home-and-home weekend. Faceoff of 7:30 p.m., the game will be broadcasted in 105 CJVR beginning with the pregame show at 7:15 p.m. from the Access Communications Centre.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork