For the first time since 1990, the Nipawin Hawks can call themselves the best Junior A team in the province of Saskatchewan.
The Hawks captured their second Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League championship on home ice Tuesday night as they defeated the Estevan Bruins in the seventh and deciding game for the Canalta Cup.
Josh McDougall, who was named the league’s defenceman of the year last month, scored the title clinching goal near the midway mark of third period during a power play.
McDougall also had an assist on a first period goal by captain Carter Doerksen, as the blueliner found the back of the net for the first time in the post-season.
Declan Hobbs, who split the goaltender of the year accolades with Kindersley’s Justen Close, turned aside all 26 shots he faced to help the Hawks earn the win.
At the other end of the ice, Bo Didur made 32 saves for the Bruins, who got their lone goal in the second period from captain Jake Fletcher.
The Bruins, who were looking to win their first SJHL championship since 1999, kept their season alive on home ice Sunday as Didur made 36 saves in a 4-0 win.
After Tuesday’s series decider, Hawks forward Brandan Arnold was named SJHL playoff MVP.
The 21-year-old from Dodsland had 10 goals and 11 assists in 16 post-season games, with his 21 points tying him with Fletcher for the second most in the playoffs
Bruins forward Kaelan Holt had 22 points to lead the league.
McDougall had the most points among blueliners with 20, which was 10 more than Bryce Fiske of the Humboldt Broncos.
Netminder Parker Tobin, who died in the Broncos bus accident on April 6, had the best goals against average in the post-season with a 1.92 mark.
Next up for the Hawks is the best-of-seven Anavet Cup series against the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Steinbach Pistons, which will get underway in Steinbach Friday night.
The Pistons, who were the top team in the MJHL this season, captured their second league title Saturday with a 2-1 over the Virden Oil Capitals in the sixth game of the league final.
The Pistons are led up front by Bradley Schoonbaert, who was second in regular season scoring with 91 points, and playoff MVP Drew Worrad, who led post-season scoring with 18 points and has committed to the NCAA’s Western Michigan Broncos.
Darby Gula, who is committed to the NCAA’s Bemidji State Beavers, was the top defenceman in the MJHL this season, while rookie netminder Matthew Thiessen put up a 1.60 goals against average and a .943 save percentage in the playoffs.
Thiessen, who has committed to the NCAA’s Maine Black Bears, is ranked fourth among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting for this year’s draft.
The winner of the Anavet Cup will then go on to next month’s RBC Cup national championship, which will be held in Chilliwack, B.C.
