The Niverville Nighthawks are set to open training camp on Tuesday, September 2, bringing together a mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talent all aiming to earn a spot on the opening night roster in just over two weeks.
This year, Niverville was one of the earliest MJHL teams to hit the ice, hosting their combined prospect and main camp in mid-August. The early start was a shift from previous seasons.
Mike McAulay, the team’s general manager and director of scouting, says he was impressed with how the players came into the camp ready to compete.
“The first thing that stood out was the pace of play,” said McAulay. “I thought the 2009s acclimated themselves really well, and the older players in camp really led the way.”
With the full training camp officially beginning this week, McAulay and the coaching staff will be looking to the team’s veterans to set the tone, while also evaluating younger players who could step into key roles.
With a strong core returning from last season, the focus will be on rounding out the roster.
Niverville head coach Dwight Hirst is entering his second full season behind the bench, and he’s made it clear that expectations are high.
In 2024–25, Hirst guided the team to a nine-point improvement in the standings—including five more wins than the previous year. The Nighthawks then pushed the MJHL’s top-ranked Winkler Flyers to a hard-fought six-game playoff series, with five of the six contests decided by just one goal.
“I want to continue what we started building last season, especially how we finished in the playoffs last spring, and build upon that,” says Hirst.
Training camp sessions will be held all week at the CRRC and are open to the public.
The Nighthawks begin their preseason schedule this coming Sunday, September 7, when they host the visiting Selkirk Steelers. Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.
Niverville opens its regular season Friday, September 19, welcoming the Winnipeg Blues to the CRRC.
Getzlaf Commits to NCAA’s Castleton Spartans
Veteran Nighthawks defenceman Holdin Getzlaf has committed to Castleton University, where he will suit up for the Castleton Spartans in NCAA Division III hockey this upcoming season.
Getzlaf joined the Nighthawks prior to the 2024–25 campaign and quickly became a key contributor on the blue line. He recorded 11 assists over 41 regular-season games and elevated his play in the postseason, tying for the team lead in defenseman scoring with four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in six playoff games.
Getzlaf’s strong play was a key contribution to the Nighthawks’ hard-fought playoff series against the Winkler Flyers.