By Bill Burfoot
📸 Niverville Nighthawks
The Niverville Nighthawks wrapped up their short two-game road trip Sunday night, travelling to Winnipeg to face the Blues.
Looking to rebound
Coming off a 3–2 loss to the Virden Oil Capitals on Friday, the Nighthawks were looking to regroup and get back into the win column before returning to the CRRC for their next three games.
The Blues entered the contest riding a two-game winning streak, having opened their season with overtime victories over the Winnipeg Monarchs and Selkirk Steelers. It marked Winnipeg’s best start to a season since 2021–22, when the club opened with seven consecutive wins.
But Sunday night belonged to Nighthawks forward Luke Curtin.
The 19-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., scored five times, becoming the first player in Niverville Nighthawks history to accomplish the feat, as Niverville erupted for an 8–3 victory over the Winnipeg Blues.
First Period
The Nighthawks came out with considerably more jump on Sunday night than they did on Friday, dominating the opening minutes and generating several quality scoring opportunities.
Niverville nearly opened the scoring when Aiden McDonald and Owen Murray broke in on a two-on-two rush. McDonald drew both Winnipeg defenders toward him, allowing Murray to collect the puck and break in alone. Murray beat the outstretched leg of Blues starting goaltender Carter Sigurdson, but couldn’t beat the post, keeping the game scoreless.
Despite Niverville’s early pressure, it was Winnipeg that struck first.
Aidan Fisher stole the puck at the Blues blue line and chipped it to Tristen Bailey along the right wall. Bailey carried the puck into the Nighthawks zone before sending a perfectly placed saucer pass to Fisher, who had beaten his defender. Fisher broke in alone and fired a shot over the right shoulder of Ben Chornomydz to give Winnipeg a 1–0 lead.
The Nighthawks weren’t deterred by the early setback and answered just over two minutes later on a perfectly executed set play.
Following a faceoff in the Winnipeg zone, Ryker Rougeau won the draw forward before sliding a pass across the crease to a waiting Luke Curtin, who buried his first career MJHL goal to tie the game at one. It was a sign of things to come for Curtin.
Niverville continued to generate opportunities throughout the remainder of the period, but Sigurdson stood tall, keeping the game tied heading into the intermission.
The Nighthawks outshot Winnipeg 17–7 in arguably their strongest opening period of the young season.
Second Period
Niverville picked up right where it left off to begin the second period, dictating play and earning an early power play.
Curtin continued his impressive night with a terrific individual effort.
After taking a pass at the Winnipeg blue line, Curtin cut across the ice, worked his way around a Blues defender and into the slot before sliding a backhand between the legs of Sigurdson to give Niverville its first lead of the game at 2–1.
Winnipeg, however, responded shortly afterward.
Fisher carried the puck into the Nighthawks zone before dropping a pass to Bailey, who quickly found a streaking Jaxin Karst between the cirlces. Karst connected on a one-timer that beat Chornomydz to tie the game at two.
The back-and-forth affair continued, and Niverville regained the lead just before the midway point of the period.
This time, Curtin turned playmaker, finding Marlen Edwards between the circles. Edwards quickly released a beautiful snap shot over the right shoulder of Sigurdson to put the Nighthawks ahead 3–2.
That lead lasted just 26 seconds.
Sam Delaquis stole the puck at the Niverville blue line and chipped a pass across to Jacob Alexander, who found himself with room to move in alone. Alexander ripped a shot over the glove of Chornomydz to tie the game at three.
Winnipeg nearly took the lead moments later when Maddox Bentley sent a perfect pass across to Xander Mecas near the top of the crease, but Chornomydz came up with a beautiful glove save to keep the game tied. That save turned the tide, and the Nighthawks took over from there.
With three and a half minutes remaining, the line of Edwards, Curtin and Rougeau struck again.
After Edwards was stopped on an opportunity from the slot, the puck bounced around in front before finding Curtin a few feet outside the crease. Curtin quickly fired a shot that just snuck across the goal line, completing his first career MJHL hat trick and putting Niverville back in front 4–3.
Rougeau picked up his third assist of the night, while Edwards collected his third point.
The Nighthawks continued to push for an insurance marker and were awarded another power play late in the period. Although they generated several chances, they couldn’t capitalize with the man advantage.
However, with the penalty expired and just seven seconds remaining in the period, Ryken Arran took a pass from Max Dowse at the left faceoff dot and fired a shot past Sigurdson to give Niverville some breathing room with a 5–3 lead heading into the final frame.
Rougeau picked up his fourth assist of the night on the goal.
Niverville dominated the middle period, outshooting Winnipeg 29–7 and scoring four times to take a two-goal advantage into the third.
Third Period
The Nighthawks wasted little time adding to their lead in the third period.
Ryan Pedersen, suiting up for his first game of the season, fired a slap shot from the right point through traffic that eluded Sigurdson, giving Niverville a 6–3 advantage early in the third.
Dowse collected his second assist of the game, while Anthony Bedard picked up his first assist of the season.
Winnipeg had opportunities to cut into the deficit, but Chornomydz came up with a number of timely saves to preserve the three-goal lead.
With just over 12 minutes remaining, Curtin took a pass from Pedersen and buried a shot from the slot for his fourth goal of the night, extending Niverville’s lead to 7–3.
Edwards collected the secondary assist for his fourth point of the contest.
But Curtin wasn’t finished as his already memorable night became one for the Nighthawks record books.
After receiving a perfectly placed cross-ice pass from Edwards, Curtin unleashed a one-timer from the right circle that found the back of the net, giving him five goals on the night and putting the Nighthawks ahead 8–3.
It was a historic performance for the 19-year-old, who became the first player in Niverville Nighthawks history to score five goals in a single game since the franchise joined the MJHL in 2022.
The offensive outburst was reminiscent of Niverville’s September 9th preseason meeting with the Blues, when the Nighthawks skated away with a 7–2 victory while outshooting Winnipeg 60–13.
Sunday’s performance was even more dominant on the shot clock, as Niverville finished with a 65–18 advantage.
The 8–3 victory improved the Nighthawks’ record to 2–1 to begin the season.
Game Stats
Luke Curtin had a night to remember, scoring five goals and adding an assist for a six-point performance. The 19-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., became the first player in Nighthawks franchise history to score five goals in a single game.
Marlen Edwards established a new career high with five points, finishing with a goal and four assists. He’s had three 4-point games since joining the Nighthawks this past January. Edwards is up to nine points (3g, 6a), and has points in all three games to start the season.
Ryker Rougeau collected four assists and now has six points (2G, 4A) through the first three games of the season, extending his season-opening point streak to three games.
Max Dowse recorded two assists for his first multi-point performance of the season.
Ryan Pedersen, playing in his first game of the season, finished with a goal and an assist.
Niverville outshot Winnipeg 65–18, including a remarkable 29–7 advantage in the second period.
The Nighthawks finished 2-for-4 on the power play and did not take a penalty in the contest.
Blues Tristen Bailey continued his hot start to the season with two assists, and now has eight points (4g, 4a) in the first three games.
Aidan Fisher extended his point streak to three games with a goal and assist. Fisher has six points (2g, 4a) in that span.
Looking Ahead
The Nighthawks now return to the CRRC for a three-game homestand beginning Friday, October 3, when they welcome the Winkler Flyers.
Niverville will then host the Winnipeg Blues on October 7 before wrapping up the homestand against the Steinbach Pistons on October 9.
