The 2024-25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League campaign begins Friday, Sept. 20, and for a proud organization and community like the Nipawin Hawks after a disappointing campaign, it cannot come soon enough.
Nipawin burst out of the gate last year, and young players were given opportunities and showed plenty of promise all over the roster, a situation that bodes well as a foundation for 2024-25. At the same time, the club never gave up its playoff dreams late in the campaign, so the momentum at ‘The Cage’ certainly appears to be headed in the right direction.
Let’s take a look at some key numbers from the last regular season for the Hawks:
Record: 22-29-1-4 (49 pts, 9th place)
Special Teams: PP: 20.2% (7th); PK: 83.1% (3rd)
Goal Differential: GF: 180 (9th); GA: 194 (6th); Diff: -14
Special Teams Frequency: Power-Play Opportunities: 263 (7th); Times Shorthanded: 272 (3rd)
Goaltender Stats from 23-24:
Damon Cunningham, 15-19-3, 3.10 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO
Tyson Endall, 8-8-2, 3.39 GAA, .895 SV%, 0 SO
Corben Schnurr, 0-1-0, 4.20 GAA, .864 SV%, 0 SO
Top Scorers from 23-24:
Braxton Buckberger: 41GP, 15G, 30A, 45PTS
Evan Forrest: 56GP, 18G, 25A, 43PTS
Finley Radloff: 50GP, 23G, 16A, 39PTS
Liam McInnis: 41GP, 7G, 28A, 35PTS
Alex Bernauer: 41GP, 12G, 22A, 34PTS
Head coach and general manager Tad Kozun, his assistant GM Dana Dirks, and their staff work as hard as anyone in the SJHL on recruitment, so it will be fascinating to see what the new fruit from their labour looks like in the year ahead.
The Hawks will likely be led up front by local boy Finley Radloff and fellow 2005-birth-year Eric Hoiness. The fact that both the supposed Day 1 goaltenders, Tyson Endall and Corben Schnurr, already have SJHL experience should be a big plus. The roster has many holes to fill, but plenty of recruits have been announced for the black and gold who hope to be those answers.
SJHL Co-Director of Media Clark Munroe sat down with Coach Kozun ahead of the 24/25 season and asked his thoughts on the upcoming year.
