Following their historic season, topping both the Manitoba Hockey League and then going on to win the Centennial Cup in an undefeated run at the nationals in Summerside, PEI, the Niverville Nighthawks have come in for a landing. And the entire fanbase was invited for one last celebration at the CRRC in Niverville.

The arena was buzzing with anticipation as hundreds of fans mingled, enjoyed food from the team’s popular gameday vendors, have a beer or two, and vie for one final, record-breaking 50/50 prize.

A fun detail: the scoreboard showed the final score from the Centennial Cup final. 4–1 Nighthawks.

“Tonight is a celebration of history,” said the evening’s emcee, Kevin Dunn. “What this team has accomplished this year has brought incredible pride to our organization, our fans, and the entire community of Niverville… From the first day of training camp to the final game on the national stage, this group showed determination, resilience, character, and heart every single night. We celebrate our players, our coaches, our hockey operations staff, our volunteers, our billet families, our sponsors, and our partners—and every fan who stood behind this team throughout this unforgettable journey. This championship belongs to all of you.”

The mood was electric as the community prepared to bid farewell one last time before the players return home for the summer.

And for those 20-year-olds who have reached the end of their junior hockey careers, the future awaits. These include captain Adam Vigfusson, Dawson Zeller, Hayden Wheddon, Merik Boles, Jake Konecsni, Parker Carrier, Luke Wagner, and Austin Dubinsky.

After the players and staff were announced to raucous cheers, several local dignitaries took turns at the podium.

“You’ve done a phenomenal job,” said MP Ted Falk. “You’ve made us all very proud. You know, Niverville has a history and a habit of punching above their weight. And when it comes to hockey, they’ve proven that they’ve got the same standard.”

MLA Ron Schuler extended greetings to everyone from the fans to the volunteers—indeed, everyone right down to the people who run the Zambonis.

“We now have the best junior hockey team in the country,” Schuler said. “And you know what? Before I close, tomorrow the team’s coming to the Legislature. The premier’s going to host them for lunch.”

“What a season,” added Niverville mayor Myron Dyck. “There is a saying: it takes a village to raise a child. I would change that and suggest that it takes a village—or in our case, a town—to support having a hockey team like the Nighthawks here in Niverville. I want to say a huge thank you to all those who supported the team this year and since their inception a few short years ago.”

Dyck closed his remarks by pointing out that if Austin Dubinsky—the Nighthawks’ starting netminder as well as the MJHL and CJHL goaltender of the year—were to run against him in the fall’s upcoming municipal election, it would likely be no contest. Dyck predicted he wouldn’t receive a single vote.

“You guys succeeded because you prepared,” said head coach Dwight Hirst. “You didn’t crumble under the pressure. Pressure uncovered the commitment you made in the darkness while no one was watching. And when those bright lights in Summerside turned on, at puck drop you guys were ready for that opportunity. In hockey and in life, when you feel pressure, you need to say to yourself, ‘Good. It means I’m growing.’ Pressure isn’t here to stop you, it’s here to shape you.”

Hirst added some reflections on the most impressive numbers from the late run that the team rode into the history books. Specifically, he pointed to the team’s regular season record of 51–6–1.

“Just let that sink in,” Hirst said. “Then you guys were 12–1 in the playoffs for the Turnbull Cup. Then you guys were 6–0 at the national tournament against the best teams across Canada. You guys finished 29–1 in the last 30 games of the year. And finally, the baker’s dozen finished it all off to win the national championship. You got the 13-game winning streak to put it all to bed.”

Last to address the crowd was Clarence Braun, president of the team’s board and the man credited with having a long-time dream to bring the highest-calibre of junior A hockey to Niverville.

But that dream didn’t come true without a ton of work and dedication from an army of community-minded people.

“Throughout the last few days, I think the common emotion to me has just been one of gratefulness,” said Braun. “I was just a dreamer at one point in time. Then all of a sudden you need to have a whole bunch of people who know a whole lot more than you to make it happen.”

Braun closed out by looking towards the future. Although this season represents an incredible high, he promises that there is plenty more success on the horizon.

“This team was built for more of this,” he said. “This is not a matter of rebuilding. This is a matter of reloading. And the guys who are going to come back are going to be the foundation for another opportunity to do this next year and the year after… So we look forward to next year. See you on August 23 for training camp.”