The Nipawin Hawks are on the brink of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship series after a 4-1 win in Game 4 of their semi-final series against the Flin Flon Bombers.
The Hawks jumped out to a huge first period lead as they scored four first period goals on home ice.
Getting such a great start was “huge”, noted Doug Johnson, Nipawin’s head coach.
“We got our crowd into it, it gave us life, it gave us momentum and it set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Brett Harasymuk got the party started for the Hawks scoring 43 seconds in before Eric Bolden scored twice and Josh Bly added one of his own.
The Hawks shut the game down after that as they allowed just a single Bombers goal, while allowing just 17 shots in the final two periods.
“We didn’t take as many chances. We played a little more solid defensively. And instead of putting pucks to the net we kept them on our tape and ate a few minutes here and there,” noted Johnson.
“We could have done a little more offensively but at the end of the day we came out with the win and that’s the main thing.”
The Hawks’ top line of Bly, Bolden and Brandan Arnold had a huge game for the Hawks as they finished with a combined three goals, and five assists.
“Your best players have to be your best players in the playoffs and game four was a statement to that fact. They were the best players on the ice and we won,” said Johnson.
