For the second straight year, the Niverville Nighthawks and Winkler Flyers will meet in the opening round of the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup Playoffs.
Last season’s matchup went the way of the Flyers, who captured the series in six games. However, that result doesn’t necessarily reflect how tight the series truly was.
Five of the six games were decided by a single goal, including a dramatic 3–2 double overtime victory for Winkler in Game 5. That contest felt like the turning point of the series, with the Flyers ultimately clinching the matchup in Game 6.
Now, the two rivals meet again—and the Nighthawks will be looking for a different outcome.
Goaltending Battle Takes Centre Stage
Much like last year’s series, the spotlight will shine bright on the goaltenders.
Niverville’s Austin Dubinsky, recently named the Ed Belfour MJHL Goaltender of the Year, enters the playoffs riding a seven-game winning streak. Dubinsky finished the season with a remarkable 34–3–0 record, the best in the league. His .931 save percentage (second in the MJHL) and 2.18 goals-against average (third) make him one of the league’s most reliable netminders.
Across the ice, Liam Ernst has quietly put together an impressive run since rejoining Winkler after the Christmas break. Ernst posted an 11–4–0 record, while his four shutouts ranked third in the MJHL.
As last year’s playoffs proved, depth between the pipes can be crucial.
In Game 5 of last year’s series, Leif Ekblad stepped in for Ernst in the third period and overtime of Game 5 to earn the win before starting Game 6 and closing out the series.
Both teams again boast strong backup options.
Niverville’s Ben Chornomydz led the league with a .942 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average. The 2007-born goaltender won 17 games, including a remarkable 13-game winning streak, and allowed two goals or less in 19 of his 20 starts.
Winkler counters with Liam Russell, who finished the season 12–4–0 and won six of his final eight starts.
Nighthawks Bring League’s Best Defence
Defensively, Niverville was the class of the MJHL this season. The Nighthawks allowed a league-low 117 goals over 58 games, a key factor in their success throughout the year.
Offensively, they were just as dangerous. Niverville placed four players inside the league’s top 12 scorers, led by Hayden Wheddon, who captured the Mike Ridley Award as the MJHL’s leading scorer with 90 points.
In addition to Wheddon, Merik Boles finished with 73 points (fifth in the MJHL), while Adam Vigfusson and Loik Leduc each put up 61 points.
Vigfusson, the Nighthawks’ captain, missed 17 of the team’s final 20 games with an upper-body injury but returned down the stretch and remains a major factor.
Flyers Counter with Elite Firepower
Winkler brings plenty of offensive weapons of its own.
Reigning MJHL MVP Niklas Gudmundson finished the season fourth in league scoring with 74 points, including 12 power play goals, and is a threat every time he steps on the ice.
Power forward Tanner George led the Flyers with 30 goals and totalled 68 points while also racking up 229 penalty minutes, embodying the physical edge that Winkler often brings.
Both teams also generate offence from the blue line.
On Winkler’s side is Owen Wallace (44 points) and Rhylan Baxter (37 points).
Standing tall for Niverville is Aaron Krestanowich (42 points) and Thomas Phillips (33 points).
Special Teams Could Decide the Series
Discipline could play a major role in the outcome. The Nighthawks spent a league-low 693 minutes in the penalty box this season. By comparison, the Flyers accumulated 1,296 penalty minutes.
That difference becomes even more significant considering Niverville’s league-leading power play, which clicked at 27.3 percent.
However, Winkler’s penalty kill ranked second in the MJHL at 85.5 percent, setting up a key battle whenever the Flyers head to the box.
On the other side, Winkler’s power play finished fifth in the league (24.8 percent) while Niverville’s penalty kill ranked third at 84.5 percent.
Also note that the Nighthawks scored seven shorthanded goals this season, compared to just one from the Flyers.
Head-to-Head
Niverville won five of the six regular-season meetings between the teams.
However, outside of an 8–2 Nighthawks victory on December 13, the games were extremely tight. The other five matchups were decided by two goals or fewer, with two games requiring overtime.
First Round Schedule
March 21: Winkler at Niverville, 7:30 PM
March 23: Niverville at Winkler, 7:00 PM
March 25: Winkler at Niverville, 7:30 PM
March 27: Niverville at Winkler, 7:00 PM
March 29 (if necessary): Winkler at Niverville, 3:00 PM
March 31 (if necessary): Niverville at Winkler, 7:00 PM
April 1 (if necessary): Winkler at Niverville, 7:30 PM