All week, we’ve been introducing our readers to the Nighthawks’ new line-up, set to take the ice for the first time this season at the home opener on Friday, September 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the CRRC.
We started with the forwards, then the defencemen, and at last we’ve come to a particular key position: goalie.
Here are the team’s two netminders, both of whom are new to Niverville this year.
Keegan Gordon was born and raised in Winnipeg. He wanted to be a goalie to take after his father.
“My dad kind of pushed me more towards hockey, as it is the thing to do in Winnipeg,” says Gordon. “My dad was a goalie, so I just wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Gordon’s favourite hockey memories include winning the B1 and B2 championships and then going to Penticton to compete in the CSSHL playoffs for the RINK Hockey Academy.
Before being traded to Niverville, Gordon spent the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Freeze.
“Joining the Nighthawks was very important to me because it really is all about the community,” he says of the team’s culture. “I found that it would be the best fit to improve my game and improve myself this year.”
Raiden LeGall was born and raised in Morden. His parents got him on skates at a very young age, and soon after he picked up a stick and started playing hockey.
“I chose to be a goalie because I really liked the challenge of blocking pucks and spent countless hours playing the goalie in street hockey,” says LeGall.
The 17-year-old is joining the Nighthawks after having a stellar season tending goal for the U18 Pembina Valley Hawks, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player honour.
“Being with the team for a bit last year let me see how good the culture was and how much everyone with the organization wants to see you succeed and improve every day, not just on the ice but as a person as well.”
Ty Dilello – Niverville Citizen