What a weekend for the Nipawin Hawks.
On Friday night, the Hawks welcomed the Estevan Bruins to The Cage and delivered a thrilling overtime win to officially clinch a playoff spot.
Estevan opened the scoring in the first from Ronn, but the Hawks answered in the second when #16 “A” Mason Karakochuk (20) buried a power-play marker from #20 Raydr Wallington (19) and #28 Sean Shiels (14). Estevan scored from Onrait.
In the third, #4 Braeden Jockims (13) scored on the power play from #34 Konnor Watson (15) and #20 Raydr Wallington (20) to even things up and send the game to overtime.
Just 12 seconds into OT, #11 Captain Finley Radloff (16) sealed the deal, finishing off a setup from #20 Raydr Wallington (21) and #10 Will Whitter (24) to give the Hawks the win and punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Shots on goal: Estevan 39, Nipawin 34.
Saturday night brought more excitement as Humboldt came to town for a high-scoring Hawks victory.
The Hawks struck early with #34 Konnor Watson (22) scoring in the first minute from #17 Brendan Olson (18) and #10 Will Whitter (25).
#4 Braeden Jockims (14) added another from #11 Captain Finley Radloff (17) and #13 “A” Carter Anderson (13). Humboldt got on the board from Flint.
In the second, the offense kept rolling.
#28 Sean Shiels scored on the power play from #16 ‘A’ Mason Karakochuk (26) and #7 ‘A’ Eric Hoiness (37).
#39 Noah Derouin (7) followed from #18 Jack Janzen (19) and #29 Tiernan Ryan (8).
#7 “A” Eric Hoiness (17) added a penalty-shot goal, and #4 Braeden Jockims (15) notched his second of the night on the power play from # 7 ‘A’ Hoiness (38) and #16 ‘A’ Karakochuk (27). Humboldt added one Penrod.
In the third, #10 Will Whitter (15) scored from #17 Brendan Olson (19) and #24 Justus Cutler (7), while Humboldt added their third from Croteau.
Shots on goal favoured Humboldt 44–37.
The Hawks now hit the road Tuesday as they head to Flin Flon for a matchup with the Bombers, riding momentum from a statement weekend and a well-earned playoff berth.
