It was supposed to come down to this.
For weeks, it appeared the Nipawin Hawks’ final game of the season against the Battlefords North Stars would decide first place.
The Hawks put any hope of that to rest with a win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves in their ultimate contest, and then picked up the two points for good measure anyway, knocking off the North Stars 5-3.
The March 9 contest at home featured nothing on the line, thanks to Nipawin’s win over the Ice Wolves, and both teams made that point clear, electing to rest their key players, choosing health over meaningless points.
The Hawks trotted out a number of prospects, including Luke Penner, Danton L’Heureux, Brodie Girod, Davis Chorney, Adam Beckman and Kalen Ukrainetz, all of whom were making their SJHL debuts.
Despite it being their first SJHL contests, the young guard held their own, managing three points thanks to a goal and an assist from Beckman, and an assist from Ukrainetz.
While the young guns were getting their feet wet, some of the Hawks’ vets were getting some added confidence offensively heading into the playoffs.
It was the Grant’s who did most of the damage offensively as Michael Grant and Grant Baetsen each scored twice, while Thomas Lenchyshyn and Jordan Simoneau notched a pair of assists each to lead the way for the Hawks.
Brad Girard answered with a pair of goals of his own, while Chaseton Braid and Dakota Huebner chipped in with a pair of assists each for a North Stars club who also went young, dressing a handful of players who had appeared in no more than five SJHL games, including their goaltender Jake Davidson, who was making his SJHL debut.
Despite being the more inexperienced of the two sides, it was the Hawks who jumped out to the early lead as Beckman and Grant both found the back of the net in the first period to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead after one period.
Despite the early lead, the opening period did not come without its nervous moments for the Hawks, including giving up a penalty shot.
Jake Anthony, who subbed in briefly for starter Declan Hobbs, turned aside Owen Lamb on the penalty shot, just 3:56 into the opening period, seemingly giving his Hawks teammates some life.
After a solid opening period the Hawks sagged in the second as Dylan Esau and Girard both found the back of the net to pull the North Stars into a tie.
After Grant scored to regain the Hawks’ lead, Girard scored his second of the period to tie the score at three.
The other Grant, Baetsen, took over for the Hawks in the third scoring twice, including once into an empty net to give the Hawks the win.
Special teams were steady for the Hawks in their final tune-up for the playoffs as their power play finished the evening 2-for-7, while their penalty kill was a perfect 6-for-6.
Hobbs was steady in his final start of the regular season turning aside 21 of the 24 shots he faced to pick up his 22nd win of the season.
Anthony, who appeared in the contest for 1:23, turned aside the only shot he faced.
The Hawks now enjoy a week off before returning to action for Round 1 of the playoffs.
While the Hawks do not yet know who they will be playing, or when the series will start, they do know they will be starting the series at home.
