Niverville Nighthawks comeback win punches ticket into Centennial Cup final

Eastman talent took centre stage as the Niverville Nighthawks defeated Ontario Junior Hockey League champions Toronto Patriots 4-3 to advance to the Centennial Cup final. The team came all the way back after trailing 3-0 early in the second period.

Down 3-2 with less than four minutes to go in the third period, St Adolphe’s Calyb Moore sniped a shot off the post and in when it looked like a rush chance was fizzling out. A minute later, Lorette’s Merik Boles tipped home a point shot for the game winner, as the Nighthawks held on for the semi-final win.

“It was awesome to see Mooresy get in and score, that was a big one for sure,” Boles, who was named the most valuable player for the game said afterwards.

“A couple late goals for some Eastman kids, that’s exciting.”

Head coach Dwight Hirst tweaked his lines slightly in the closing moments but didn’t shorten his bench, with Moore lining up on what could be considered the team’s fourth line to start the game. Hirst called the goal “a pro shot.”

“He ripped that thing from above the circle and ripped it post and in,” Hirst said.

“That’s just a great shot from Moorsey.”

Boles, watching from the bench, has played all season as part of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s best line alongside Adam Vigfusson and Hayden Wheddon. Part of that success comes from the rest of the team’s lines grinding out strong shifts.

“That says a lot about our team,” Boles said.

“We can roll out four lines and we’ve got a bunch of guys who can hurt you in different ways.”

Boles was also excellent at the face-off dot in the third period, setting up plenty of chances by winning offensive zone draws. That success was especially valuable after the team struggled at the dot in the first period. Hirst said he expected and saw a strong opening period from the Patriots. Toronto played the day before, defeating Canmore in the quarterfinals, while Niverville earned a bye to the semi-finals after finishing the preliminary round undefeated.

“Those are the quiet things as a coach you really respect,” Hirst said on Boles’ 200-foot game and face-off prowess.

“You want to start with possession and you want to start with it and he does that all the time for us… Respect to Toronto, they came out really hard in the first period.”

Niverville’s quest to advance to the national final got off to a disastrous start. Just 30 seconds into the game, Cole Cooksey cut into the Nighthawks’ zone, around a defender where goaltender Austin Dubinsky was ready with an active poke-check. Instead of bouncing away, the puck got caught up in Cooksey’s legs and bounced into the net.

The MJHL champions had a glorious chance to equalize, when Boles was clipped with a high stick, drawing blood. The Nighthawks couldn’t capitalize on either powerplay and also came up empty on a following tripping minor.

As soon as the penalties expired, Niverville took one of their own, with Luciano Bruno doubling the lead when Toronto pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

Another rough start to the period had the Nighthawks down 3-0 early in the second, when a failed breakout attempt turned into a clean two-on-one rush, which Bruno tallying his second of the game after a nifty feed in tight from Kyle Morey.

Niverville’s powerplay finally came alive, converting on a pair of opportunities through the sticks of Evan Panzer and Marlen Edwards. They got the first chance thanks to a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct handed to Toronto. Panzer was able to pull the puck from below the goal-line and past Trey Caracciolo.

“There’s times where you think you might be down and out, but then there’s times where the team and players prove they’re not down and out,” Hirst said.

“I’m not going to lie, I think the pivotal point of that game was when they took a bench minor up 3-0. That pushed us towards our direction… Sometimes it’s not something that happens on the ice, it’s off the ice that changes the momentum.”

Edwards hammered home a one-timer from the bumper spot at the face-off circle, receiving a pass from the point to pull the Nighthawks within one. The Nighthawks special teams were solid, killing off a Toronto powerplay a few minutes before their comeback.

“Those are moments as a coach you just revel in it,” recalling the team’s special teams performance.

“They just keep continuing to find a way to win.”

Austin Dubinsky re-gained his form after the early tough bounce, making some excellent saves during Toronto odd-man rushes to keep his team in the game. In the third he somehow got his leg on a puck that looked destined to slip through the five-hole, stretching across the crease and keeping his body low to the ice to intercept the chance with his team down one.

The Nighthawks will play in the Centennial Cup final May 17, with puck drop at 5 p.m. Manitoba time. The game will be broadcast on TSN, with a watch-party at Smitty’s in Niverville.

“All we wanted at the beginning of the year was that opportunity, and now we’ve got the opportunity to play for that tomorrow,” Hirst said.

“It’s going to be awesome.”

Niverville will play Summerside. Game time is 5 p.m.

— Carillon