NIPAWIN — When the buzzer reached zero, confirming the Nipawin Hawks’ victory in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League final, team captain Carter Doerksen said he was so excited.
“I couldn’t comprehend what was going on,” he said five minutes after the Hawks defeated the Estevan Bruins 2-1 in Game 7 of the championship series. “It still hasn’t sunk in.
“It means so much [for Nipawin]. It means so much for everyone here. It’s been too long and every single person here deserves this.”
It was Doerksen who scored the first goal in the April 24 game for the Hawks. He scored in the first period and was assisted by Josh McDougall and Jake Tremblay.
“We had a good screen. I just thought I’d get a shot on net and I ended up getting lucky and got it through,” Doerksen said. “[It’s] one of the best feelings I’ve had for sure.”
In the second period, Jake Fletcher of the Bruins tied up the game. That state of affairs lasted until McDougall scored in the third during a power play, assisted by Tyler Adams and Grant Baetsen.
“I got the pass over and I decided to put my head down and shoot it,” McDougall said. “I got a lift on it, but it went in, so I’m pretty happy with that.”
McDougall told The Recorder what was going through his mind as the game ended and he knew his team won the Canalta Cup.
“It’s a pretty good feeling, knowing you’re going to hoist that cup,” he said. “That buzzer hit zero. It’s a pretty special feeling.”
Brandan Arnold said it feels good to be on the winning team.
“I think we were focused on just having a good D-zone the whole game and being smart, doing our systems the entire time until that buzzer goes and then you’re so tired, you can’t even put it into words.”
Arnold received the SJHL playoffs most valuable player award.
“I would have traded it in for the Canalta any day,” he said. “It’s nice to get it, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of my teammates this year. They were huge behind me.”
Doerksen said the team was thankful to have the opportunity to play for the cup.
“To do this for Humboldt, too, it meant a lot for us to get this for Humboldt,” he said. “I think the City of Humboldt deserves this as much as the Town of Nipawin.”
