News, Playoffs

Nighthawks draw first blood in Turnbull Cup Final

by ksaurette

Photo: Kalee Haasbeek

WINNIPEG, MB – Loik Leduc scored twice while Austin Dubinsky made 30 saves to help the Niverville Nighthawks to a 4-1 win in game one on Friday night in front of a sold out crowd at the CRRC in Niverville.

It didn’t take long for the Nighthawks to get going in game one when Thomas Phillips squeezed the puck through the wickets of Braxton Burdeny to put Niverville up by one with the powerplay goal just 2:49 into the frame.


After a low event 1st period where both teams went through the feeling out process, the intensity ramped up in the 2nd with both teams trading 14 shots respectively. Like they did in the 1st, Niverville found the back of the net early in the 2nd when Loik Leduc jumped on a loose puck at the mouth of the Virden net and tucked in his first of two on the night.


Through the midway mark of the period, Austin Osiowy wheeled into the Nighthawks zone and ripped the puck over the shoulder of Austin Dubinsky, popping the bottle to cut the Nighthawks lead in half at 2-1.


Just over a minute later on the powerplay, Dawson Zeller blasted in his 5th of the postseason to restore the Nighthawks two-goal lead, taking a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period.


In the 3rd, the Nighthawks would capitalize with one more powerplay marker when Loik Leduc scored his 2nd of the game to extend Niverville’s lead to 4-1. Virden would outshoot Niverville, 11-9 in the frame but Austin Dubinsky would stand tall in the Nighthawks crease to help close out the win in game one.


Niverville went 3-for-5 on the man-advantage while killing off all five of the Oil Capitals powerplay opportunities.

Game two is set for Sunday night in Virden at Tundra Oil & Gas Place with puck drop at 7:00pm.