Hawks Use Preseason to Evaluate Talent, Build Toward Regular Season

With the regular season quickly approaching, the Nipawin Hawks are using every shift of the preseason to evaluate their roster, build chemistry and prepare for the pace of SJHL hockey.

Through three exhibition games, the Hawks hold a 1-2 preseason record with two games remaining, but for Head Coach and General Manager Tad Kozun and his staff, the focus goes well beyond the win-loss column.

Preseason is about finding the right combinations, evaluating new talent and making the difficult decisions that will shape the opening-night roster.

Nipawin opened the exhibition schedule by giving many of the organization’s younger players an opportunity to show what they could do at the Junior A level.

“We were really happy with our first exhibition game. We played our young guys and they showed very well. We are excited about the new guys we have here for this year, as well as our future,” said Kozun.

Those exhibition opportunities are an important part of building an organization beyond a single season. Young players get a chance to experience the speed, physicality and expectations of Junior A hockey, while the coaching and scouting staffs get another look at how players respond when the pace increases.

That evaluation process also highlights the work happening long before players ever arrive at The Cage.

The Hawks’ scouting staff spends the season identifying and evaluating talent throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, helping build both the current roster and the organization’s pipeline for future seasons. Their work gives the coaching staff options, and this preseason, those options have created plenty of competition.

As the preseason has progressed, so has the level of competition.

With returning Hawks battling alongside newcomers and prospects, every exhibition game provides another opportunity for players to make their case.

            “We have seen the competition rise through the other preseason games and have some tough roster decisions and kinks to work               out,” Kozun said. “As a staff, we feel we are in a good spot with the returners and we are looking forward to the upcoming season.”

For the Hawks, those tough decisions are a good problem to have.

Returning players provide an established foundation and an understanding of what is expected within the Hawks program, while newcomers are pushing for roles and bringing another level of internal competition.

The final two preseason games will give the coaching staff valuable opportunities to evaluate line combinations, defensive pairings, special teams and individual roles before the games begin to count in the standings.