The Niverville Nighthawks showed no signs of slowing down on the road Friday night, extending their win streak to 13 games with a 6–2 victory over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard.
The matchup marked the second game of a home-and-home series and came after a five-day break for the Nighthawks, who had just wrapped up a six-game homestand.
Despite not having boarded a bus since October 28 for a road game—and facing the long ride up north—the team looked sharp early and maintained its perfect road record, now sitting at 6–0–0 away from home and 19–1–0 overall.
The Nighthawks stormed out of the gate, striking twice in the first 74 seconds. Hayden Wheddon opened the scoring with his eleventh of the season, scooping up a loose puck in the left circle before driving it to the net before sliding it past Blizzard goaltender Keagin Kelln.
The goal also extended Wheddon’s impressive point streak to 10 games.
Moments later, Luke Wagner recorded his first of the season, lifting a shot from the right circle over Kelln’s shoulder to make it 2–0.
Niverville controlled much of the play in the opening period and were able to add another in the final minute, with Wheddon picking up his second of the night. After missing the net on his initial attempt, he corralled the loose puck beside the goal and banked it off the back of Kelln and in, sending Niverville into the intermission with a 3–0 lead.
That goal also marked the first point with the Nighthawks for Jake Demone, who joined the team via trade from the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs on November 8.
After a scoreless second period, the offence returned in the third, as the teams combined for five goals—three of them on the power play.
Wheddon completed his hat trick early in the period when Boles found him wide open in the slot, where he fired a quick shot over Kelln’s glove to make it 4–0.
Then, with the Nighthawks on the man advantage, Wagner added his second of the night as his point shot deflected off multiple bodies before finding its way into the net for a 5–0 lead.
Just as in the previous game between these two teams, Northern Manitoba had a much better third period and nearly broke through with under five minutes remaining, but an apparent goal from Justin Whitrow was waved off after an incredible right-pad save by Nighthawks goaltender Ben Chornomydz, who knocked the net off its moorings just before the rebound was sent home.
The Blizzard continued to pressure and eventually got on the board when Kelton Kellerman fired a power-play shot through traffic to spoil Chornomydz’s shutout bid. Another Blizzard power play just moments later yielded a second goal, as Kellerman’s point shot deflected off both Trystyn Sidor and Jett Fogle to make it 5–2.
Northern Manitoba came inches away from pulling within two, missing a wide-open net in the final minute. That proved costly, as Niverville iced it in the final seconds. John Scott finished off a perfect pass from Tyler Bernier, slipping the puck through Kelln’s pads with 19 seconds left to seal the 6–2 win.
The victory came with several standout performances. With three assists, Adam Vigfusson moved within one helper of the league lead. Wheddon’s hat trick brought him to 13 goals and 32 points on the season, just one point back of Waywayseecappo’s Sebastian Hicks for the MJHL scoring lead. He has now recorded 18 points—seven goals and 11 assists—during his 10-game point streak, including 10 points over his last four outings.
Chornomydz improved to 5–0–0 on the year and has yet to allow more than two goals in any start. The Nighthawks outshot the Blizzard 35–22.
Niverville now turns its attention to Saturday night, when they face the Swan Valley Stampeders for the first time this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.