The Niverville Nighthawks and Waywayseecappo Wolverines will kick off Game 1 of their MJHL semifinal series this Thursday night at the CRRC, with both teams making their first-ever appearance in second-round playoff action.
Based on how they handled their opening rounds, neither team looks out of place.
Waywayseecappo swept the Dauphin Kings in four games, but the series was closer than it appears, featuring both an overtime and double-overtime win. The Wolverines relied on strong goaltending, timely scoring, and veteran leadership—a formula that also drove Niverville in the opening round.
The Nighthawks finally broke through the first-round barrier that had held them back in their first three seasons, sweeping the Winkler Flyers—the same team that eliminated them a year ago—while extending their winning streak to 15 games.
Now, with two teams making their second-round debut, something has to give.
The Nighthawks and Wolverines faced off four times during the regular season, with Niverville coming away victorious in every meeting. The Nighthawks earned a tight 2–1 win on November 9, followed by a dominant 6–1 victory on December 2. They continued their streak with a 6–2 win on February 28 and closed out the season series with a 4–2 win on March 3.
As expected in playoff hockey, goaltending could ultimately decide this series. The matchup features two of the hottest netminders in the MJHL, with Austin Dubinsky and Jase Wareham currently ranked first and second respectively in save percentage through the opening round.
Wareham was outstanding for Waywayseecappo, stopping 135 of 142 shots against Dauphin. The 20-year-old from Rivers, Manitoba proved that he can handle a heavy workload, with Dauphin outshooting the Wolverines in three of the four games, while staying composed under pressure. His play has given Waywayseecappo confidence in tight contests, a staple of playoff hockey.
Wareham faced Niverville twice during the regular season, posting a 23-save performance in a 2–1 loss November 9, and also appearing in a 6–1 defeat on December 2.
On the other side, Dubinsky has continued the dominant form that earned him the MJHL’s Ed Belfour Top Goaltender Award. He allowed just five goals in the four-game sweep over Winkler, capped off by a 38-save shutout in Game 4.
Dubinsky leads the playoffs with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage. He was also perfect against the Wolverines in the regular season, going 4–0 while allowing no more than two goals in any game. Dubinsky’s consistency and ability to shut the door late in games have been a major factor in the Nighthawks’ success.
Both teams have leaned on balanced scoring to reach this point.
For Niverville, contributions during the opening round came from all over the lineup, reflecting the same depth they showed throughout the season. Their ability to roll lines and generate offence from multiple sources has made them a tough team to defend against. Nine players recorded three or more points in the series, with Marlen Edwards leading the way with seven assists, and Adam Vigfusson and John Scott each scoring four goals. Scott’s hat trick in Game 1 set the tone for the series.
The Wolverines have employed a similar approach. Fifteen players recorded at least one point against Dauphin, underscoring their own depth. Veterans Sebastian Hicks and Ben Roulette led the way with five points each, while Dylan Duzan contributed four points (three goals, one assist). Cole Hunter, Treycen Wuttunee, and Max Collyer also chipped in with key offensive contributions.
Both teams are getting production from their defence corps, another key ingredient in playoff success.
Niverville’s Aaron Krestanowich sits near the top of MJHL defencemen in scoring with six points (one goal, five assists) through four games, while Waywayseecappo’s Kurt Rookes, who led all MJHL defencemen in the regular season with 57 points, continued his strong play with a three-point series in the opening round.
More importantly, both teams have been strong defensively, doing an excellent job of limiting goals against. The Nighthawks have allowed just five goals in four games, while the Wolverines have given up only seven.
With the stakes magnified in the post-season, games usually come down to small details, and special teams could play a pivotal role in what is projected to be a tight series.
In the opening round, the Nighthawks converted at 21.7 percent on the power play (five for 23) while the Wolverines were slightly more efficient at 23.5 percent (four for 17). On the penalty kill, Niverville held the edge, operating at 86.6 percent, compared to Waywayseecappo’s 76.9 percent.
The Wolverines finished the regular season with a record of 29–24–3–2, good for third in the West Division. But they’ve been a different team since the holiday break, posting a 17–7–2 record and entering this series on a five-game winning streak.
Niverville, however, has been dominant and consistent all season long. The Nighthawks wrapped up the regular season on an 11-game winning streak, then carried that momentum into a four-game sweep of Winkler to push their current run to 15 straight wins.
This matchup features two teams playing confident, structured hockey, each backed by strong goaltending and depth throughout the lineup. With a spot in the MJHL final on the line, fans should expect a hard-fought, tightly contested series.
Second Round Schedule
Thursday, April 2: Waywayseecappo at Niverville, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 4: Niverville at Waywayseecappo, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, April 6: Waywayseecappo at Niverville, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8: Niverville at Waywayseecappo, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 10 (if necessary): Waywayseecappo at Niverville, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 (if necessary): Niverville at Waywayseecappo, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14 (if necessary): Waywayseecappo at Niverville, 7:30 p.m.