News, Playoffs

Nighthawks, Oil Caps each take 3-1 series lead

by ksaurette

WINNIPEG, MB – The Niverville Nighthawks and Virden Oil Capitals skated to victory on Wednesday night to each take a 3-1 series lead in their best-of-seven McMunn & Yates Turnbull Cup Playoffs semifinal matchups.

Nighthawks 3 Wolverines 0 | Nighthawks lead best-of-seven series 3-1

Merik Boles recorded the game winner while Austin Dubinsky posted a 21-save shutout in game four to blank the Wolverines 3-0, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Niverville.

After a scoreless 1st period, Merik Boles tucked in the opening goal on the powerplay to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead.


Heading into the 3rd, the Nighthawks continued to control the game when Marlen Edwards notched his first of the postseason to give Niverville a 2-0 lead.


Down by a pair, the Wolverines would pull Jase Wareham for the extra attacker but that would be all as Adam Vigfusson would score on the empty net to seal the 3-0 win for the Nighthawks.

With the series shifting back to Niverville for game five, the Nighthawks now have a chance to advance to the Turnbull Cup Final for the first time in team history on Friday night at home.

Oil Capitals 6 Pistons 2 | Oil Capitals lead best-of-seven series 3-1

The Virden Oil Capitals stormed out to a 5-0 lead in game four and never looked back as they would cruise to a 6-2 win, taking a 3-1 series lead back to Steinbach with a chance to advance to the Turnbull Cup Final on Friday night.

1:16 into the 1st period, Nathan Schaefer’s powerplay marker would give the Oil Caps a 1-0 lead after one period of play where they outshot the Pistons, 18-6.

In the 2nd, Brooks Siemens and Jett Deschamps would score goals 1:13 apart to extend the Oil Caps lead to 3-0. With under four to play in the frame, Liam Goertzen’s 4th of the postseason came on the powerplay to give Virden a 4-0 lead after forty minutes of play.

Near the midway mark of the 3rd, London Hoilett would once again extend the Oil Caps lead to five when he beat Easton Thvedt.

The Pistons would break the shutout 12:28 into the period when Jackson Kostiuk recorded his 8th of the postseason with a powerplay marker. Just like they have all series long, Virden answered back when Colten Worthington scored a powerplay goal of his own to give Virden a 6-1 lead.

Rory Gilmour would score late for the Pistons but that would be all as the Oil Caps would skate to a 6-2 victory to earn their 3-1 series lead.

The Oil Capitals now travel to Steinbach on Friday night for game five when they will have a chance to book their spot in the Turnbull Cup Final for their 3rd time in franchise history.