News, Playoffs

Nighthawks advance to Final, Pistons extend series

by ksaurette

WINNIPEG, MB – The Niverville Nighthawks advanced to the Turnbull Cup Final with their game five win over the Wolverines on Friday night while the Steinbach Pistons doubled the Virden Oil Capitals to force a game six on Sunday night in Virden.

Nighthawks 7 Wolverines 0 | Nighthawks win best-of-seven series 4-1
Calyb Moore scored twice while Austin Dubinsky made 18 saves for his second straight shutout to help propel the Niverville Nighthawks to a 4-2 win in game five over the Wolverines, booking their spot in the Turnbull Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.

The Nighthawks hit the ground running in game five when Calyb Moore scored 26 seconds into the first to pop the top off the CRRC. Just 1:31 later, Marlen Edwards gave Niverville a two-goal lead, beating Wolverines goaltender, Jase Wareham. On a late powerplay, Merik Boles extended the Nighthawks lead to three with his 2nd of the postseason to send Niverville into the first intermission up 3-0.


Just like they did in the 1st, Niverville continued to step on the gas and scored another three goals, with Calyb Moore, Dawson Zeller, and Kole Mears hitting the back of the net to give the Nighthawks a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the final twenty minutes of play.


In the 3rd, Adam Vigfusson netted his 9th of the postseason to cap off the win for the Nighthawks with a 7-0 decision over the Wolverines to earn a 4-1 series victory. The Nighthawks outshot the Wolverines, 33-18 in game five, going 2-for-4 on the man-advantage.

The Nighthawks now await their Turnbull Cup Final opponent where they will meet the winner between the Virden Oil Capitals and Steinbach Pistons.


Pistons 4 Oil Capitals 2 | Oil Capitals lead best-of-seven series 3-2
Brett Kaiser netted a pair of goals including the game winner while Easton Thvedt turned aside 30 of 32 shots to help the Steinbach Pistons defeat the Oil Capitals, 4-2 in game five to exteforce game six in Virden on Sunday night.

For the fourth time in five games of the series it was the Oil Capitals who struck first when Colten Worthington’s powerplay marker hit the back of the net to give Virden a 1-0 lead 9:02 into the game.


The Oil Capitals extended their lead in the 2nd when Tyson Ulmer beat Easton Thvedt on the doorstep to give Virden a 2-0 lead. With under three minutes to play in the frame, Pistons captain, Sam Noad tipped a point to cut their deficit in half heading into the 3rd.


In the 3rd period, Steinbach would take over, outshooting the Oil Capitals 15-3. 13:04 into the period, Luke Bogart would tie the game at 2-2 with his second of the postseason. Just under a minute and a half later, Brett Kaiser picked up a loose puck at the mouth of the crease before spinning and firing it to the back of the net, giving Steinbach their first lead of the night to send the home crowd of 2,365 into a frenzy.


Virden would pull Braxton Burdeny for the extra attacker but that’s as close as they would come with Kaiser scoring his second of the game on an empty netter to seal the 4-2 win in game five for the Pistons.

Steinbach outshot the Oil Capitals, 42-32 in the win, going 0-for-1 on the man-advantage while Virden converted 1 of their 3 powerplay opportunities.

With the Oil Capitals leading the best-of-seven semifinal series 3-2, things now shift to Virden on Sunday night for game six at 7:00 inside Tundra Oil & Gas Place.