The Hawks and Ice Wolves faced off in Kinistino on Saturday as part of Hockey Day in Saskatchewan festivities. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Groundhog Day

Hawks edged in shootout for second straight night

Jan 21, 2024 | 2:48 PM

The Nipawin Hawks have now lost four straight games, but the positive for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) club is they did collect a couple points in a pair of shootout losses this weekend.

After dropping a 4-3 loss Friday in Nipawin to Melville, the Hawks had the same fate versus La Ronge in Kinistino as part of Hockey Day in Saskatchewan festivities on Saturday.

Meeting the Ice Wolves for the fourth time this year, the Hawks were looking for their third straight win against their Sherwood Division rivals.

Nipawin started strong, starting the game with the opening seven shots, but Topher Chirico kept he Hawks at bay and allowed La Ronge to take a one goal lead in the first.

After opening a 2-0 lead, Nipawin’s Dallyn Peekeekoot scored his first as a Hawk against his former club. La Ronge answered to go up two goals again before the third. Luke Chase and Finley Radloff scored in the third to tie the game and force overtime. Head Coach Tad Kozun praised the play of Peekeekoot and his linemates Mark Lafleur and Mason Karakochuk after the game.

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“They generated two goals for, I thought they had a real solid night. They took care of the puck, they go the puck low, they used their size, they had chances, I thought they had a really good night tonight,” Kozun said on the postgame show.

The Hawks awarded La Ronge five power-play opportunities in the opening period and seven overall in the game. Nipawin has provided opponents with the second most man advantages against in the SJHL. The Hawks penalty killing is the league’s second ranked group, but Kozun said the team needs to be more disciplined.

“We’ve got to stay out of the penalty box,” Kozun added. “We’re one of the most penalized teams in the league right now and some of the penalties we take are not smart hockey penalties.”

Overall, the Ice Wolves scored once in seven tries, the Hawks failed to capitalize on any of their four power-plays.

Tyson Endall suffered the loss in goal making 23 stops in regulation and overtime, the 18-year-old stopped four of five in the shootout. Chirico turned aside 33 shots and all five Nipawin shooters in the shootout.

The teams will meet again in their next action on Jan. 26 in La Ronge. Kozun said the team will use this week to refocus with a gap in their game schedule.

“You start gripping the stick and start thinking about everything too much then you get away from playing your game and trusting your abilities. That’s the biggest thing, we know we have some really good hockey players in that room. They are going to come around,” Kozun concluded.

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clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

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