The Niverville Nighthawks closed out their home preseason schedule in convincing fashion Friday night, earning a 4–1 victory over the visiting Steinbach Pistons at the CRRC. The win boosts the Nighthawks’ preseason record to 3–1–0–0, with just one game remaining before the regular season begins.
Despite being a few games into the preseason, the early moments of the contest felt tentative—until the Nighthawks found their rhythm midway through the opening frame.
Forward Steven Foster opened the scoring just eight minutes in, letting a shot go from the right circle that deflected off Parker Carriere, who was cutting toward the net, and past Pistons goaltender Chris Quizi.
The appearance marked Quizi’s debut with Steinbach after being acquired from the Brooks Bandits (BCHL) on Wednesday.
Niverville struck again just 34 seconds later, as Loik Leduc finished off a perfect cross-ice feed from Kole Mears to make it 2–0. Mears, who had a standout performance, finished the night with three assists.
The Mears-Leduc connection struck once more late in the first period. Leduc took a feed from Mears and ripped a shot that deflected off a Pistons stick and beat Quizi for his second goal of the night, giving the Nighthawks a 3–0 lead with under three minutes to play in the opening period.
The Pistons responded quickly, however, with Brody Green getting Steinbach on the board just 30 seconds later. Green lifted a shot over the outstretched glove of Nighthawks goaltender Ben Chornomydz, cutting the lead to 3–1. It was the only blemish on an otherwise flawless night for the 18-year-old netminder from Sanford, who finished with 23 saves.
Niverville struck once more late in the second period. Newly acquired defenceman Aaron Krestanowich—brought in, along with Tyler Bernier, from the Northern Manitoba Blizzard in a trade on Thursday for Lane Apperley, Kanye Huang, and a player development fee—made an immediate impact.
With the Nighthawks shorthanded, the 19-year-old Winnipeg native intercepted a pass at his own blue line, carried the puck into Steinbach’s zone, and dished a perfect pass to Max Dowse in the slot. Dowse buried it for his first goal of the preseason, rounding out the scoring.
The same two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach to wrap up the preseason. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
After that, the Nighthawks set their sights on the regular season, which begins at home next Friday, September 19, when they host the Winnipeg Blues at the CRRC.