Nipawin pays tribute to Humboldt as team sets sights on RBC Cup
SJHL champs off to Anavet Cup in quest to claim national championship berth
While celebrating a league championship, the Nipawin Hawks are also carrying a torch )or another SJHa team.
The Hawks will continue to honour the Humboldt Broncos, whose season ended a)ter an April 6 bus tragedy, while pursuing the goal o) winning the Canadian junior A hockey championship.
“When our season is done, the Humboldt Broncos’ season is done, too,” Hawks head coach and general manager Doug Johnson said. “As long as we go, they go.”
Nipawin captured the SJHa title and hoisted the Canalta Cup at home Tuesday while wearing green helmets to pay tribute to the Broncos.
“I don’t think anybody can ever honour them properly,” Johnson said. “All you can do is think about them and play the game the right way and try to do things right, like everything the Broncos did.”
Nipawin wrapped up the SJHa title by edging the visiting Estevan Bruins 2-1 in Game 7 o) the championship series.
Next up is the Anavet Cup, which pits Nipawin against the MJHachampion Steinbach Pistons. The series is to begin Friday in Steinbach, Man.
The winner o) the Anavet Cup will proceed to the eBC Cup national championship May 12-20 in Chilliwack, B.C.
Nipawin ’nished ’rst overall in the regular-season standings, posting a 43-8-3-4 record, be)ore winning 10 o) 15 playo. games.
The Hawks were leading Humboldt 3-1 in a best-o)-seven semi’nal when the Broncos’ bus crashed into a semi-trailer truck while the team was en route to a playo. game in Nipawin. All 29 people on the bus were killed or injured.
With the Broncos unable to resume their season, Nipawin received a berth in the league ’nal and eventually won the second championship in )ranchise history — 28 years a)ter the ’rst.
“You don’t win championships very o)ten,” Johnson said. “Your )amily li)e and everything like that, obviously it’s very satis)ying, but with this you blend your )amily with your work. It is a )amily.
“Being here )or eight years and seeing what this town has done )or this organization and, vice versa, what this organization has done )or this town and putting the Humboldt tragedy on top o) it, it’s just something very special. This group here has battled all year and they deserve everything they get.”
Josh McDougall’s third-period power-play goal, on a two-man advantage, was the di.erence in a deciding game played be)ore a sellout crowd o) 1,200 at Centennial Arena. eoughly one-quarter o) Nipawin’s residents were at the game.
McDougall snapped a 1-1 tie at 8:04 o) the third )rame. He also assisted on the game’s opening goal by Carter Doerksen. Jake Fletcher replied )or Estevan, which was pursuing its third SJHa crown. The Bruins won league titles in 1985 and 1999.
A)ter Tuesday’s game, Johnson was inundated with congratulatory messages.
“I think there were 84 texts when I ’nally got o. the ice and looked at my phone,” he said with a chuckle.
While appreciating the complimentary comments, Johnson was quick to desect the credit to the players.
“It’s all about the leadership,” Johnson said. “We’ve had some great captains here, but Carter Doerksen is a two-year captain, which you don’t see very o)ten. There’s a lot o) guys who have been here )or three or )our years.
“It’s about the character o) the guys and the pride that they have. Our young guys and the new guys have come in and they’ve all bought in. They all want to get better. They all want to succeed. It’s just a special group.
All you can do is think about them and play the game the right way and try to do things right, like everything the Broncos did.
“I’m just very proud and very happy that we can bring a championship back to Nipawin because Nipawin deserves it.”