The Niverville Nighthawks couldn’t have asked for a better start to their Friday night matchup against the Neepawa Titans. Despite coming into the game with a perfect 5–0 record, the Nighthawks have been looking for more consistent starts—and they got just that, scoring on their opening shift en route to a dominant 7–1 win.
Calyb Moore opened the scoring just 38 seconds into the game, knocking home a loose puck in the crease to give Niverville the early lead. Ryken Arran picked up the primary assist, collecting his first point of the season .
The Nighthawks struck again later in the period when Merik Boles won a puck battle behind the Titans net and fed Hayden Wheddon in front, who flipped the puck past Neepawa goaltender Mathew Michta to make it 2–0.
That score held through the end of the first period, despite Neepawa outshooting Niverville 15–8. Goaltender Austin Dubinsky was sharp, shutting the door on the Titans.
Early in the second, Niverville captain Adam Vigfusson made an immediate impact after serving a penalty. Moments after stepping out of the box, he carried the puck into the offensive zone and dropped it to Wheddon. The initial shot was blocked, but the puck bounced right back to Vigfusson, who buried it to extend the lead.
Neepawa finally solved Dubinsky midway through the second frame. After winning a faceoff in the Nighthawks’ zone, Keenan Skrupa’s point shot was blocked, but Ty Kirk jumped on the rebound and beat Dubinsky to cut the lead to 3–1.
With a chance to swing momentum on the power play, Neepawa instead saw the game slip further away. Niverville forward John Scott blocked a shot at his own blue line, broke in alone, and lifted a backhander over Michta’s blocker to restore the three-goal cushion.
Niverville didn’t let up in the third period. Neepawa had taken a late penalty in the second and the Nighthawks capitalized on the ensuing power play when Scott found Loik Leduc in stride. Leduc ripped a shot from the left circle over the shoulder of Michta to make it 5–1.
With that goal, Leduc extended his goal-scoring streak to six straight games. He has now scored in every contest this season.
Scott wasn’t done. He picked up his second goal and third point of the night when Luke Mackenzie fed him in the right circle. Scott snapped a quick shot past Michta to stretch the lead to 6–1.
The scoring was capped off by the line of Wheddon and Boles once again. Thomas Phillips started the play, sending the puck to Boles behind the Neepawa net, and Boles once again found Wheddon in front for his second of the night.
The top line of Vigfusson, Wheddon, and Boles was dominant throughout the game, combining for eight points. Vigfusson finished with a goal and an assist, Wheddon had two goals and one assist, and Boles recorded a career-high three assists. All three players have recorded points in five of the team’s first six games this season.
John Scott not only tallied his first multi-point outing of the season, with two goals and an assist, but he finished the night with a fight, completing the Gordie Howe hat trick.
Calyb Moore’s goal was his first of the season while Parker Carrier added an assist, giving him five points over his last three games.
Goaltender Austin Dubinsky turned aside 34 of 35 shots and improved his record to 5–0–0. He has allowed two goals or fewer in four of his first five starts.
Makin’ Moves
Earlier in the day, the Nighthawks made a trade, acquiring 2006-born forward Parker Rolston from the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL in exchange for a player development fee. The 19-year-old from Winnipeg split last season between the Virden Oil Capitals and the Winnipeg Freeze, collecting 15 points in 43 games.
Niverville will now turn their focus to the Dauphin Kings, who they face at home this Sunday, October 12 in a 3:00 match at the CRRC. It marks the first of a five-game homestand for the Nighthawks.