The Mustangs picked up their first win over Nipawin in SJHL play this season Saturday at the Centennial Arena. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Rivalry renewed

Hawks fall to Mustangs for first time this year; enter Christmas break at .500

Dec 17, 2023 | 9:36 AM

The Hawks couldn’t continue their winning ways against the Mustangs Saturday with Melfort ousting Nipawin 4-1 at the Centennial Arena in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play.

The Mustangs’ victory was their first in four games against their archrivals this season. Despite the three goal margin that included an empty net goal late, Nipawin Captain Maguire Ratzlaff said the team played a decent game.

“We took care a lot of the details and I don’t think the scoreboard is necessarily indicative of how the game went. The goalie back there played a heck of a game and at the end of the day we have to bury our chances,” he said.

James Venne returned to the Mustangs’ net after missing Friday’s game that the Hawks won 5-4 in overtime at the Northern Lights Palace. He made 38 saves in the win, Damon Cunningham stopped 26 shots in the loss.

Braxton Buckberger scored the lone Nipawin goal, it was his 13^th goal of the season.

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With the defeat the Hawks will go into the Christmas break with an even record of 15 wins and 15 losses in regulation plus a pair of shootout losses. Nipawin is sitting in fifth place in the SJHL standings, 11 points back of the fourth place Humboldt Broncos. The Hawks’ goal from the get-go this year was hosting game one of the first round of playoffs. Going into the holidays Ratzlaff said that aspiration remains the same.

“I’d be lying in saying we’re satisfied,” Ratzlaff admitted. “I think we’ve proven we can be a great hockey team in this league, but our consistency has struggled all year. I think it will be good to get back home, reset, each guy will be able to look in the mirror and reset and recharge and get ready to hit the ground running in the new year.”

Nipawin will return to action at home on Jan. 3 versus the Kindersley Klippers.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

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