The Niverville Nighthawks kept their dominant season rolling Tuesday night, erupting for five unanswered goals en route to a commanding 6–1 victory over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. The win extends Niverville’s remarkable winning streak to 16 games and lifts them to an astounding 22–1–0 record. The Nighthawks are also unbeaten on the road.
Niverville controlled play from the drop of the puck, holding Waywayseecappo without a shot until midway through the opening frame and outshooting the Wolverines 10–7.
Despite the chances favouring Niverville, the period looked like it would remain scoreless, until the Nighthawks broke through with just 22 seconds left. Loik Leduc buried his ninth of the season, redirecting a perfect cross-ice feed from Calyb Moore past Wolverines goaltender Jase Wareham. The play started after a fantastic defensive effort from Luke Wagner, who forced a turnover at the defensive blue line.
The Wolverines briefly clawed back early in the second, tying the game on a power-play rebound tapped in by Kurt Rookes.
But the celebration was short-lived as the Nighthawks offence exploded for four goals in a span of 2:50.
Rolston restored the lead at 9:58, finishing a backhand setup from Leduc to make it 2–1.
Just 62 seconds later, Hayden Wheddon broke in alone after a save from Austin Dubinsky and a quick outlet from Parker Carrier, slipping a five-hole shot past Wareham for his twelfth of the year. The assist marked Dubinsky’s first point of the season.
Only 37 seconds later, Ryken Arran powered to the net and scored amid a chaotic collision that knocked the goal off its moorings. After discussion, the officials ruled it a good goal, pushing the lead to 4–1.
Then, at 12:48, Moore intercepted a clearing attempt from Wareham on the right wall and fed Evan Panzer at the left side of the crease, who tucked home his seventh of the season to make it 5–1.
Niverville continued to press in the third, and late in the period Adam Vigfusson capped the night off with his thirteenth goal of the season after Wheddon picked off a pass at the blue line and sent him in on a breakaway. From there, Vigfusson made no mistake, securing the 6–1 final.
Dubinsky ended the night with 17 saves on 18 shots, earning his MJHL-leading seventeenth win of the season. It was the tenth time this season Dubinsky has held an opponent to one goal or less.
Vigfusson extended his point streak to seven games with his late goal.
Wheddon added two assists, pushing his point streak to 13 games and maintaining his lead atop the MJHL scoring race with 37 points, just ahead of Vigfusson’s 35.
Leduc registered a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to three games with two goals and four assists in that span.
Rolston recorded his first multi-point game of the season, while Moore’s two assists give him five points over his last two outings and mark his fourth multipoint performance of the year.
After going 13 games without a goal, Tyler Bernier has now scored twice in his last three.
Tonight’s game begins a stretch of 10 games in the next 19 days for the Nighthawks, before the league pauses for the Christmas break.
The Nighthawks wrap up their five-game road trip Friday in a MGEU East division showdown against Steinbach, a battle between the top two teams in the division. Niverville has won all three meetings between the clubs so far this season, including a 4–0 shutout on November 11.
The Nighthawks return home Sunday night to host the Virden Oil Capitals at the CRRC. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.