The Niverville Nighthawks gave the home crowd a treat on Saturday evening with a big 3–0 victory over the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. With the win, the Nighthawks move up into third place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 18–9–1.
It was a very tightly executed game all the way through as goals were hard to come by.
Adam Vigfusson opened the scoring for Niverville late in the first period with his team-leading eighteenth tally of the season.
From there, the team’s played to a scoreless second period. Only in the final frame did Niverville pull away with a goal each from Hayden Wheddon and Bryce Warkentine.
Niverville’s Austin Dubinsky stopped all 32 shots he faced for the shutout.
“It was a big win over a good team, as Northern Manitoba is very structured,” says head coach Dwight Hirst. “Our second effort tonight was off the charts. We competed for every loose puck.”
Hirst is quick to credit goaltender Austin Dubinsky, who is performing quite admirably in the absence of starter Raiden LeGall, who is currently off playing in the WHL for the Everett Silvertips.
“Austin has been playing the way we expected and the way he is capable of,” says Hirst. “His maturity is what makes him thrive in these games, and understanding what his capabilities are. His potential is all in his hands.”
The Nighthawks are back in action with a road game tonight against the Winkler Flyers. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
