The Niverville Nighthawks held their annual fundraising gala on March 14, and it was a resounding success. The event was a sellout, with a waiting list and more than 350 people in attendance. Centred around the theme “All Night Long,” the evening delivered a celebratory atmosphere and overwhelming show of community support.

Guests were treated to an evening of entertainment, including a live auction and duelling-piano performance that kept the crowd energized late into the night.

The funds raised will support a variety of initiatives, with the top priority being the development of a Junior A-calibre dressing room for the players.

Since joining the league in the 2022–23 season, the Nighthawks have operated out of a rented trailer that sits just outside the CRRC. The need for a permanent, upgraded space has steadily grown in importance over the years.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees and sponsors, approximately $150,000 was raised in support of the dressing room project. This includes a remarkable $25,000 contribution from IG Wealth Management, Cam Rennie & Associates, one of the evening’s title sponsors.

Rennie had issued a challenge during the event, pledging to match donations up to $25,000, a goal that was achieved.

Adding to this momentum, Tom Kleyson, a longtime supporter of junior hockey and member of the Nighthawks board, committed to matching all funds raised up to $250,000.

As a result, the total impact from Saturday night alone reached close to $300,000, providing a strong start toward the overall fundraising goal of $1.5 million, the approximate cost of the dressing room project.

The team’s recent success has also been a key help. The Nighthawks finished the regular season atop the MJHL standings with a franchise-best record of 51–6–1. Not only is that the best record achieved by the Nighthawks in its first four years of competition, it’s also the best record any MJHL team has achieved in a decade.

“Fundraising is a major part of running a Junior A team,” says Clarence Braun, presidents of the board. “Across the MJHL, it typically makes up about a third of a team’s budget. It wasn’t easy in our early years, but to see our gala grow from 250 attendees to a sold-out event with a waiting list is incredibly rewarding. It speaks to the dedication of our volunteers.”

Braun credits the efforts of the team’s volunteers—led by Cara Dowse, Fran Giesbrecht, Heather Wallace, Jennifer Leoppky, and many others—for making the event possible.

Sponsorship is another critical piece of the puzzle.

“Sponsorships generally account for another third of our budget,” Braun adds. “While we may not have the size of some larger markets, our corporate community has really stepped up. We’re especially grateful to the Niverville Heritage Centre and Cam Rennie of IG Private Wealth Management for their leadership as primary event sponsors.”

Beyond fundraising and sponsorship, Braun highlights the importance of the team’s ownership and support structure.

“Our 67 founding members are the backbone of this organization,” he says. “Their commitment, along with our legacy members, play a huge role in supporting both operations and capital projects.”

Now in its fourth year, the organization’s growth continues to be both exciting and humbling. On the ice, the Nighthawks have qualified for the playoffs in each of their first four seasons, a testament to the work of general manager Mike McAulay, head coach Dwight Hurst, and their staff.

“It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come,” says Braun. “What started as a vision has taken thousands of hours from dedicated people. Our board, volunteers, and staff have built something special… Our hockey operations group has done an outstanding job developing players and giving them a path to succeed.”

As a non-profit organization rooted in community, the Nighthawks rely on the continued support of locals of all stripes. It takes approximately $1 million annually to operate a Junior A program, and the annual gala remains the single largest fundraiser of the year.