The Nipawin Hawks will begin the next season with a bang, playing their first two games against their rival, the Melfort Mustangs.
“It’s going to be nice for the communities to see each team right away,” said Doug Johnson, the team’s head coach. “It’s going to be great for the players to get used to that rivalry because – I’ve said it a million times – I think it’s the best rivalry in Junior A hockey.”
The two teams will face each other 10 times this season. Unlike last season, where the games were in the back end, the battles between the rivals will be spread out.
The team also announced its fiscal results at its annual general meeting June 20. The latest audited statement, dated May 31, 2016, states the team lost more than $34,000 in the 2015-16 season, due to an increase in operational costs and a decrease in revenue.
For the 2016-17 season, the team is still working on a few details, but they expect to break even.
Darren Opp, the team’s president, said the Hawks are in good shape.
“I think Doug and the community has grown the strength of our organization over the years and it’s getting better all of the time.”
The Hawks plan to increase fundraising revenue with new events, one of which is a sportsman’s dinner, featuring former NHLers Brian Trottier and Clark Gillies. The team is also making innovations on how it sells tickets, putting in place a new system where fans can pay for season tickets in monthly installments.
The team is also keeping more financially healthier than its fellow hockey teams due to its agriculture project, where local businesses and individuals give time and much of the inputs.
“If you take that fundraiser out, you’re in the hole, every year,” Opp said.
Johnson said he’s expecting a strong season, adding the team has a great core coming back.
“You’re going to expect, hopefully, a hard-working team, a team that’s very competitive. I’ve been here seven years, the expectations haven’t changed,” he said. “We want to try to win a championship every year and how we do that isn’t going to change a whole lot. It’s going to be through hard work, it’s going to be attention to detail, a structurally sound team that can play fast and have a lot of fun.”
