The Niverville Nighthawks closed out their regular season home schedule in style on Friday night, defeating the Winnipeg Monarchs 5–1 at the CRRC while moving a step closer to clinching the MJHL regular season title.
Before the game, the team honoured its graduating players, celebrating the contributions of Thomas Phillips, Jase Konecsni, Parker Carrier, Dawson Zeller, Hayden Wheddon, Austin Dubinsky, Merik Boles, and team captain Adam Vigfusson for their time and dedication to the club.
As well, a pair of familiar faces around the rink were also recognized, as Ashlee and Brett from the Nighthawks Street Team were named the organization’s Volunteers of the Year for their contributions to the team and game-day atmosphere.
League honours were also presented before the game, with MJHL Commissioner Kevin Saurette on hand to present several awards to members of the Nighthawks.
Head coach Dwight Hirst received the league’s Coach of the Year award, while Boles was recognized for the Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship award. Goaltender Austin Dubinsky was also honoured as the MJHL’s top goaltender.
With the crowd still buzzing after the pregame ceremony, it didn’t take long for the captain to pick up right where he left off. After missing 16 games with an upper-body injury dating back to January 24, Vigfusson made an immediate impact midway through the first.
Vigfusson forced a turnover inside the Monarchs blue line, drove the net, and slid the puck past goaltender Dylan McFadyen for his twenty-fourth goal of the season.
The Nighthawks doubled their lead just 44 seconds later. Evan Panzer carried the puck from the corner into the slot and snapped a shot blocker-side on McFadyen, making it 2–0.
Late in the period, Parker Rolston extended the lead to three. After Rykan Arran fired a shot from the left circle that McFadyen stopped, the rebound bounced to the crease and deflected off Rolston’s skate and into the net. Following a brief discussion, officials ruled it a good goal.
The Monarchs answered before the intermission. Idris Alameddine picked up a loose puck at centre ice, split the Nighthawks defence, and lifted a backhand over the right shoulder of Ben Chornomydz to cut the lead to 3–1. That was the only goal to beat Chornomydz, with the Nighthawks goaltender turning aside 25 of 26 shots to pick up his sixteenth win in nineteen games played.
There was only one goal in the middle frame, and it was the captain who struck once again. Carrier spun away from a check behind the Monarchs net, then delivered a perfect backhand pass to a wide-open Vigfusson in the slot, who snapped a shot over the glove of McFadyen and in for his second goal of the night.
Vigfusson’s return was a major boost for the Nighthawks both on the ice and on the bench.
“Energy,” Hirst said. “He brings pace and brings calmness on the bench. Just the things you want your captain to bring, he brings it. Having his energy, pace, and leadership back on the bench is really.”
The Nighthawks rounded out the scoring late in the third period on a nice passing play. Loik Leduc found Panzer, who moved the puck below the right circle before sending a backhand pass to Zeller for a tap-in to make it 5–1 with his eighteenth of the season.
Hirst liked the way his team played in their final home appearance of the regular season.
“I thought our game was good tonight,” Hirst said. “For a game that’s our last home game of the regular season, I thought we finished with a lot of speed and a lot of pace.”
The Nighthawks have been dominant on home ice this season, finishing with a 24–4 record, something Hirst attributes to familiarity and consistent habits.
“I think playing at home, there’s a comfort there, knowing the surroundings being on the ice every day,” he said.
The victory keeps Niverville in position to clinch the MJHL regular season title with just three games remaining, although the red-hot, some might say stubborn Steinbach Pistons continue to apply pressure. Steinbach won its thirteenth straight game on Friday with a 4–2 victory over the Winkler Flyers to keep pace with Niverville, sitting seven points back with four games remaining in the Pistons schedule.
Niverville will have a chance to clinch Saturday night when they travel to Winkler for their first visit to the newly renovated Centennial Arena.
After that, the Nighthawks head to Selkirk to face the Steelers on Tuesday before wrapping up the regular season on Friday against the Portage Terriers.