The Niverville Nighthawks completed a perfect preliminary round at the Centennial Cup on Wednesday night, surviving a wild back-and-forth battle against the Rockland Nationals with a 7–6 victory in Summerside, PEI.

With the win, the Nighthawks secured first overall in the preliminary standings, earned an automatic bye into the semifinals, and gained the opportunity to choose their semifinal opponent once the quarterfinals conclude on Friday night. Niverville finished the round robin with a flawless 4–0 record.

Despite already securing a semifinal berth with Tuesday’s 6–4 victory over the Canmore Eagles, the Nighthawks were tested by a talented Rockland squad eager to finish its tournament on a high note after being eliminated from the playoffs. The matchup featured the CJHL’s top two teams at the conclusion of the regular season, with Rockland finishing first and Niverville close behind in second.

Niverville rested several regulars for the contest while giving others their first chance to suit up at the national championship. That included goaltender Ben Chornomydz, who made his first start of the Centennial Cup. It was his first start since March 10—and he was tested immediately, turning aside a partial breakaway just over a minute into the opening period.

The Nighthawks struck first thanks to a strong individual effort from Max Dowse, who was appearing in his first game action since March 13. Dowse stripped the puck from a defender and snapped a shot that slipped through Rockland netminder Kayden Newton to make it 1–0.

Niverville doubled its lead midway through the first period when Hayden Wheddon buried a rebound after Aaron Krestanowich’s point shot was mishandled by Newton to put the Nighthawks up 2–0.

Rockland answered late in the opening frame on the power play. After Chornomydz made a spectacular save, Alex Kelloway sent a perfect cross-ice feed to Mavrick Brunet, whose quick release cut the deficit to 2–1.

The Nationals carried that momentum forward and tied the game before the intermission. Noah Laframboise found space in the slot before sliding a pass across the crease to Gabriel Le Houillier, who tapped home the equalizer to send the teams into the break tied two goals apiece.

Rockland grabbed its first lead of the game early in the second period, capitalizing on a two-on-one rush to move ahead 3–2.

But the Nighthawks responded midway through the frame on yet another goal from Adam Vigfusson. Following a strong forecheck by Wheddon, Vigfusson collected a pass near the crease, shifted to his backhand, and buried his Centennial-Cup-leading seventh goal of the tournament to tie the game 3–3.

Moments later, Niverville’s top line connected again on a highlight-reel passing play. Vigfusson dropped the puck to Wheddon in the slot before receiving it back at the side of the crease. He then slid a perfect feed across to Merik Boles, who redirected home his first goal of the tournament to restore the Nighthawks’ lead at 4–3.

Rockland once again answered back. Taylor Laframboise beat Chornomydz from the left side with under five minutes remaining in the second to even the game.

The scoring continued late in the period when Dawson Zeller threw a backhand toward the net on the power play that redirected off a defender’s skate and in to put Niverville back ahead 5–4. The goal was Zeller’s fourth of the tournament, extending his streak of scoring in every game at the Centennial Cup.

The Nighthawks wasted no time adding to their lead in the third period. Just 12 seconds into the frame, Wheddon forced a turnover deep in the offensive zone and fed Vigfusson in front. A scramble ensued and the puck trickled through Newton. Wheddon helped the puck across the line from the crease to give Niverville a 6–4 advantage.

Moments later, the Nighthawks nearly added another, as Boles sprung Vigfusson on a breakaway, but the captain rang his shot off the post.

Rockland refused to go away quietly. Jeremy Belleau cut the deficit back to one after stepping out of the penalty box on a breakaway. Chornomydz made the initial stop, but Belleau recovered the rebound, set up Brunet, who returned the pass back to Belleau at the side of the crease to make it 6–5.

The Nationals completed yet another comeback on the power play when Kelloway buried a rebound to tie the game 6–6.

In typical Nighthawks fashion, the team was able to find one final answer. With just under four minutes remaining, Kole Mears intercepted a pass in the slot and slid the puck over to Zeller, who made no mistake, wiring home his second goal of the game and fifth of the tournament for the eventual game-winner.

Rockland pressed late with the goaltender pulled, but Chornomydz came up with several key saves to preserve the victory.

Final shots on goal favoured Rockland 33–31.

Following the game, Zeller said that earning first place in the preliminary round is a major boost for the club heading into the semifinals.

“It’s great for us,” said Zeller. “We get to choose who’s the best fit for us going into the semifinals.”

Zeller also praised Rockland’s effort in the tightly contested matchup.

“They played a great game and never gave up,” he added. “They’re a good team and it was a good battle.”

With two days before semifinal action begins, the Nighthawks will now shift their focus toward recovery and preparation.

“Lots of rest, recovery and sleep and we’ll get right back at it Saturday,” Zeller said.

The Nighthawks are looking to become just the fourth team from the MJHL to capture a national championship, and the first since the Portage Terriers accomplished the feat in 2015.

The Centennial Cup quarterfinals are set for this coming Friday, May 15. Niverville will await the results before selecting their semifinal opponent for Saturday, May 16.