The Niverville Nighthawks scored in the final minutes of the game to complete their comeback and defeat the Portage Terriers by a 4–3 score on Wednesday evening. With the win, the Nighthawks stay in fourth place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 24–13–3.
The Nighthawks started off the game very slow as Portage jumped out to a 2–0 lead after the first period.
Niverville got one back early in the second period with a goal from Merik Boles before the Terriers replied once again make it a two-goal game.
But the Nighthawks found a way to rally and tied the game later in the second period with goals from Sean Williams and Aiden Corbett.
The third period was hotly contested, but it was Merik Boles who played hero of the night by scoring his second goal of the game in the dying minutes.
Niverville’s Austin Dubinsky stopped 28 shots in goal for the win.
“It was a big win tonight, but I wasn’t pleased with the first period,” says Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst. “We were second to pucks and couldn’t get pucks out at our blue line and turned them over at their blue line. It wasn’t our style, and we knew it.”
As for Boles, the veteran Nighthawks had a banner game.
“He’s a defencemen’s biggest support and we all know he is a very defensive player,” says Hirst. “Last season’s exit meeting with him was focused on his offensive game. Get better with your shot and strength training, and now he’s the best 200-foot player in this league. No one is close to his three-zone play.”
The Nighthawks are back in action with a home game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Sunday, February 2. The puck drops at 6:00 p.m.
