Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
WINNIPEG, MB – The Niverville Nighthawks completed the sweep of the Winkler Flyers while the Steinbach Pistons took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Portage Terriers on night eight of the McMunn & Yates Turnbull Cup Playoffs.
For the Nighthawks, they move on to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since entering the league in 2022-23.
Nighthawks 4 Flyers 0 | Nighthawks win best-of-seven series 4-0
Adam Vigfusson scored twice while Austin Dubinsky posted a 38-save shutout in game four to send the Nighthawks into the second round.
Parker Carrier and Aaron Krestanowich got the scoring started for the Nighthawks to give them a 2-0 lead after the 1st in a period where both teams posted 10 shots a side. Just 40 seconds into the 2nd period, Adam Vigfusson scored his first of two on the night with his powerplay marker to extend the Nighthawks lead to three.
Adam Vigfusson (05’) with a tap in on the back-post gives the @MJHLNighthawks an insurance marker very early in the second period, as the Nighthawks shutout the Flyers to win the series!🚨#MJHLHockey #TurnbullCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/OQoAlebhQD
— MJHL (@mjhlhockey) March 28, 2026
Vigfusson would notch his second of the game and fourth of the postseason early in the 3rd while Austin Dubinsky would stand tall in the Nighthawks crease, stopping 17 shots in the period to help seal the win and earn the Nigha 4-0 series sweep of the Winkler Flyers.
#MJHLNews | The @MJHLNighthawks have advanced to the 2nd round of the @McMunnandYates #TurnbullCupPlayoffs for the first time in team history! pic.twitter.com/fVH3jXLHut
— MJHL (@mjhlhockey) March 28, 2026
The Nighthawks will now meet the Wolverines in the second round of the Turnbull Cup Playoffs.
Pistons 5 Terriers 2 | Pistons lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Zhenya Miles scored the game winner 3:47 into the 3rd period while Chris Quizi made 36-saves to help the Pistons secure a 5-3 victory in game four.
The Pistons would get off to a strong start in game four with Liam Doyle and Rory Gilmour scoring in the opening ten minutes. The Terriers wouldn’t go away quietly as Adam Belzil would score 34 seconds after the Pistons made it 2-0. Dylan Karran beat Quizi with three minutes left in the period to tie the game at 2-2 heading to the 2nd.
After Evan Gradt gave the Pistons their first lead of the game in the 2nd period, Zhenya Miles found the back of the net early in the 3rd to extend the Pistons lead by a pair.
Evan Gradt (06’) with a perfect tap in on the backdoor for the @MJHLPistons gives them back the lead in the middle parts of the second period, ad Steinbach hold onto win a massive game 4, and take a 3-1 series lead!🚨#MJHLHockey #TurnbullCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2TDBrt8TZE
— MJHL (@mjhlhockey) March 28, 2026
Edward Knittig cut into the Pistons lead midway through the 3rd but that’s as close as the Terriers would get after Jackson Kostiuk’s 6th of the playoffs would solidify the win to give the Pistons a 3-1 series lead.
Game five is set for Saturday night in Steinbach at the Southeast Event Centre with puck drop at 7:00.
