Mason Karakochuk scored his first career SJHL goal in a 7-3 Nipawin win over Kindersley Wednesday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

First goal feeling

Bernauer puts up five points; Karakochuk adds first SJHL goal in Hawks blowout win

Jan 4, 2024 | 10:59 AM

The Nipawin Hawks welcomed 2024 with a bang on Wednesday soaring past Kindersley 7-3 in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) play.

Hitting the ice for the first time since Dec. 16, the Hawks scored three times in the first, another trio of goals in the second, and one more for good measure in the third period to oust the Klippers and pick up their second seven-goal performance against Kindersley on home ice this year.

Alex Bernauer led the way with a pair of goals in the opening period to go along with 17-year-old rookie Mason Karakochuk scoring his first career SJHL goal. The Saskatoon-born forward said the team was ready to play and knew the importance of the game that featured a pair of teams tied for fifth in the SJHL standings.

“We needed that one, for us that was just the start,” the second overall SJHL U15 draft pick from two years ago said after the game. “This second half is going to be huge and we’re coming to prove ourselves.”

A talented scorer in minor hockey and eventually a high draft pick, it took Karakochuk 27 games to get his first junior hockey tally, however, it’s one he will never forget.

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“It means a lot; I was just trying to do the little things right and eventually I knew it would come. It feels really nice now,” he said.

Bernauer went on to score his first career SJHL hat-trick and added a pair of assists. Fellow Saskatonians Braxton Buckberger and Braeden Jockims also scored, Maguire Ratzlaff capped the scoring with the lone goal from a player not from the Bridge City.

Nipawin will now prepare to travel to Flin Flon on Friday for the first time to meet the Bombers. Nipawin has hosted Flin Fon twice and lost 5-3 and 3-2. Karakochuk said the team is focused on upsetting the nation’s top-ranked squad on the road.

“I think we’re going to prove something on Friday. We’re coming to win that game, there’s no other way around it,” he concluded.

Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m. from the Whitney Forum, and the pregame show on Duplex Furniture and Appliances Hawks Hockey on 750 Beach Radio begins at 7:15 p.m.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @ClarkStork