It’s a great time to be a hockey fan in Niverville. And while the Niverville Nighthawks continue to dominate in the MJHL, another Niverville squad has been quietly building something special of their own.

The Niverville Panthers, in just their second season of existence, have surged to the top of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League standings, finishing first in the Price Division with a stellar 21–2–0–1 record, two points ahead of rival Lorette and three ahead of Warren.

Last season, the Panthers finished with a strong 15–9–0 record and won their first round playoff series against Windsor Park before falling to Lorette in the best-of-three quarterfinal.

This season, they’ve not only raised the bar but also expectations, and they’ve been doing so with confidence, depth, and a clear sense of who they are as a team.

At the helm is head coach Brandon Lockerby, who also serves as the school’s physical education teacher. A former University of Manitoba Bisons player with four years of U-Sports experience, not to mention 150 games in the Western Hockey League, Lockerby has been part of highly successful programs and understands what it takes to win.

He’s seen those same qualities emerge in his group this year and attributes much of the team’s success to a strong returning core from its inaugural season.

“For us, we’ve had a lot of returning players, so I think we had a foundation from last season and have been able to build off that,” says Lockerby. “The new players integrated themselves well, combined with some early-season success which helped.”

That early success? A ten-game winning streak to open the season. After a narrow 2–1 overtime loss to Warren snapped the streak, the Panthers responded the only way they knew how—by winning 11 straight.

The only blemish down the stretch came in the final two games of the regular season, both against second-place rival Lorette.

But Lockerby believes those losses may prove valuable.

“Sometimes when you’re on a run like we’ve been on this season, you need a bit of a humbling to remember the feeling after a loss,” he says. “It’s a reminder that you can’t take a night off and expect to walk out of the arena with a victory.”

One of the most impressive aspects of Niverville’s season has been their offensive depth. Six players averaged more than a point per game and 11 players surpassed the 20-point mark. No one line carries the load singlehandedly. Everyone contributes.

“The success this season has certainly been by committee,” Lockerby says. “It takes everyone to contribute, and we’ve had a lot of that.”

The balanced attack has made the Panthers difficult to defend and even harder to shut down, a dangerous formula entering playoff hockey.

The energy inside the rink has matched the performance on the ice. Niverville High School Principal Paul Grosskopf says that the support from students and families has been just as meaningful as the wins.

“Seeing our stands filled, hearing the energy in the building, and watching students rally around their peers is exactly what we hope for.”

Lockerby echoes that sentiment, noting that the early start times allow classmates to walk over after school and support their friends.

He believes the program’s impact stretches far beyond wins and losses.

“Not only is the product and the hockey important, but it’s also about building characteristics and qualities to make them great people—not only now, but for the future too.” 

Grosskopf agrees. “It creates shared experiences, pride, and connection across grades and friend groups. When students show up for one another, it strengthens belonging and reinforces that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”

The Panthers now await word on whether they’ll represent the A/AA Division at the Provincial Championships, set for February 26–28 in Carberry. If they qualify, it will be a whirlwind stretch—a first-round playoff series followed immediately by Provincials.

But regardless of what happens next, Lockerby knows that this group has already built something lasting.

“They may not realize it yet, but when they get a little older they’ll understand they’ve built relationships that will last the rest of their lives.”

In a town already buzzing with hockey success, the Panthers have already ensured one thing: the future of hockey in Niverville is in very good hands.