The Niverville Nighthawks were in the fight all night long but came up short in a 3–0 loss to the Winkler Flyers at home on Sunday evening. With the loss, the Nighthawks remain in fourth place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 19–10–1.
The Nighthawks and Flyers each played a tight, hard-checked game for 60 minutes. Unfortunately, Niverville just came out on the other side of the inch. Winkler scored one goal period.
Niverville’s Austin Dubinsky stopped 21 shots in goal for the loss.
“It was a game of chess tonight with moves and plays that were critiqued among the two benches,” says Nighthawks head coach Dwight Hirst. “The players only had a few opportunities tonight, so puck management was the difference that tilted the game in their favour.”
Despite the loss, Hirst is very proud of how the team has played over the past few weeks. They have won a lot of hockey games.
“I’m very proud of the maturity and acceptance of what’s needed from within on the daily approach,” he says. “It’s all about how you prepare, as that’s how you play.”
The Nighthawks are back in action this week on Wednesday, December 18 with a home game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
Hirst isn’t worried about the upcoming Christmas break, which has done the Nighthawks in over the past two seasons.
“The Christmas break will not change these boys’ approach,” says Hirst. “It will enlighten their perspective on what is important. It will enhance our acknowledgment of what makes this team tick.”
