Taking Flight

EDITOR

Evan Braun editor@nivervillecitizen.com

CREATIVE

Dustin Krahn ads@nivervillecitizen.com

SALES

Dylan Zacharias sales@nivervillecitizen.com

Ray Dowse rdowse@nivervillecitizen.com

COVER PHOTO

Crystal Stott

COVER DESIGN

Dustin Krahn ads@nivervillecitizen.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Scott Stroh

Crystal Stott

Justin Braun

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ty Dilello

Evan Braun

Jennifer Lavin

Sara Beth Dacombe

PUBLISHED BY THE NIVERVILLE CITIZEN INC.

WHAT’S

5 | THE NIGHTHAWKS HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

6 | LETTER FROM THE NIGHTHAWKS PRESIDENT

6 | LETTER FROM THE MJHL COMMISSIONER

8 | LOOKING BACK AT YEAR ONE OF THE NIGHTHAWKS

10 | NIVERVILLE CRRC SEATING CHART

11 | 2022-2023 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

12 | COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER KELVIN CECH

15 | WHAT IS THE MJHL?

16 | MJHL ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: REMEMBERING THE LEGENDS

19 | COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

20 | THE REAL GAME DAY HEROES: VOLUNTEERS

22 | FLYING HIGH: CELEBRATING THE FLIGHT CREW

Box 266, Niverville, MB R0A 1E0 www.nivervillecitizen.com

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The Niverville Junior A Hockey Club is a community-owned not-for-profit organization that is proud to represent Niverville and region. Our ultimate objective is to compete at the highest level of Junior A hockey and challenge for the RBC Centennial Cup.

Our commitment as an organization is to develop a culture in which we help players attain their true potential in hockey as well as in life. Our focus is on sportsmanship, teamwork, professionalism, and respect. The ownership group, coaches, staff, players, volunteers, and our corporate partners all actively contribute to the creation of an exceptional environment and sense of community pride.

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NIGHTHAWKS HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

For the Nighthawks, pulling off the first season was a huge milestone.

But it’s only the first step.

Despite making the playoffs in the inaugural season, the organization knows that it’s going to be a long and winding road—a road that will hopefully lead to many championships for Niverville.

“It was important to us when this thing started a year and a half ago that we wanted to bring a competitive team to Niverville,” says Mike McAulay, assistant general manager. “We just didn’t want to come in and limp around the league, so it was important to us that we found the right players to be competitive from the get-go. Being a year one playoff team was always the goal. And we want to set that as the bar going forward. That’s the minimum standard for us.”

From his past experiences in coaching, head coach Kelvin Cech has seen on previous stops just how powerful it is when you have high-character kids playing in town.

“Hockey ops-wise and staff-wise, we just want to see Niverville continue to be a destination for players, and we want it to be built around the players and built around bringing in the best players and the best human beings possible,” says Cech.

Cech wants to see everything about the program continue to improve as time goes on and the Nighthawks become more established as a franchise.

This requires the team to take a multifacted approach, paying close attention to the product on the ice, the culture off the ice, the facility itself, and the team’s sponsorship and connections with the community and its many businesses.

In a results-based league like the MJHL, though, building a championship-calibre team is undoubtedly the number one goal.

“We want to be a team that is knocking on the door deep in the playoffs every season and going on runs,” says Cech about his hopes for the future of this team. “But I also

know that it’s very easy to just say something like that.”

So what do the Nighthawks need to do to make that happen?

“We just have to treat the players right. I mean, at least, this is what I believe,” he says. “I believe that championship franchises are built around the players, coaches, training staff, medical staff, the volunteers, and just the people who have a hand in it on a daily basis. I think we need to build something that attracts those players. We’ve got good people here and our scouting staff who find players and find people to come in and contribute to the team and are good players.”

The Nighthawks are eager to continue attracting the most elite players they can find, because that elite team is going to turn around and win championships for Niverville.

“Ultimately, it takes guys who go out on the ice every night to win games and put the puck in the net. And we want to keep bringing those guys in.”

THE

There are so many considerations that go into building up a high- calibre MJHL franchise that has the skill to compete for a championship year after year.

D SCOTT STROH

LETTER FROM THE

NIGHTHAWKS PRESIDENT

Wow! 2022–2023 was a year of firsts for the Niverville Nighthawks. First home game, first win, first goal, first hattrick… the list could go on.

Yet for all that happened on the ice, the story begins and ends with the people who made it possible.

I want to express my appreciation to all the community-minded people who were part of our first season. Your involvement represents a tremendous commitment of volunteer time and effort.

First and foremost, let’s recognize our fans. We had no idea what those first games would be like, yet from opening night and throughout the season, the fans brought their best—and the players responded to secure a playoff spot in our inaugural season. Thank you.

Then there’s our incredible group of volunteers, led by Fran Giesbrecht. You came out for every game in your distinctive yellow jackets. We heard so many comments from other teams about the level of volunteer support we received. Thank you.

LETTER FROM THE

A huge thank you to our corporate sponsors for their generosity in supporting our first year. From game day sponsorships to marketing partners and gala contributors, 2022–2023 was a great year and we look to continue to build on that support as we move forward. Thank you.

We cannot overlook the amazing and caring group of billet families that were led by Gail Chornoboy. You showed great patience and resilience. None of us had any idea of the emotional attachments that would develop between families and players. At times we said goodbye to the players and on the same day welcomed other players as the team was being constructed. Thank you.

Every contribution was made with the purpose of building a competitive team. Kevin Lansard was pivotal in organizing the hockey operations side. And thank you, Coach Kelvin Cech, for the great staff and leadership you put together. A highlight for me was hearing from so many parents about how well their

MJHL COMMISSIONER

I would like to introduce myself to the community of Niverville. My name is Kevin Saurette and I have been commissioner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League since 2020.

I assumed this role after working for four seasons as MJHL Director of Operations under long-time MJHL commissioner Kim Davis. I grew up in Brandon and now reside in Winnipeg with my wife Sarah and our two daughters, Sophie and Molly.

Before my time with the MJHL, I enjoyed a ten-year professional hockey-playing career with stops in the U.S., Germany, and Belfast, Northern Ireland. During my time in Belfast, I enrolled in Ulster University into the Executive MBA Program where I earned my Master’s degree with distinction.

sons were treated by our hockey operations staff.

Thank you also to the 50+ founders for your investment in bringing the Nighthawks to Niverville and the MJHL. Thank you to our legacy partners for your support as well.

We are committed to being better in every aspect of our team in 2023–2024, as well as to the culture and mission statement we put in place at the beginning of our journey.

I must also thank Kevin Saurette and the staff of the MJHL for their support. And I acknowledge the other twelve member teams and their governors and wish them every success in the 2023–2024 season.

In closing, to the board of directors, your dedication and commitment in the past two years has made this a journey to be remembered and treasured for a lifetime.

We have only just begun. Go Nighthawks!

CLARENCE BRAUN

PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR

On behalf of the MJHL board of governors, I would like to thank the community of Niverville and surrounding area for an amazing first season in the MJHL.

It was a very exciting day for the MJHL community when Niverville was granted an expansion franchise to operate in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the inaugural season did not disappoint.

Niverville is one of the fastest growing communities in the province and the MJHL board of governors is thrilled to have the organization as part of the MJHL family.

I would like to recognize the significant commitment and efforts of Clarence Braun, the Niverville board of directors, the community, volunteers, and staff who have been

instrumental in making the Niverville Nighthawks’ inaugural season a success and benchmark for expansion franchises across the CJHL.

As I am sure everyone in Niverville is, we are also very excited for year two of Nighthawks hockey and for the many seasons to follow.

Thank you to everyone involved who helped bring MJHL hockey to the community of Niverville and we wish continued success to the Nighthawks’ management team, hockey operations staff, and all of their partners and supporters as they embark on their second season in the best Junior A league in Canada.

Best wishes and good luck,

KEVIN SAURETTE COMMISSIONER, MJHL

LOOKING BACK AT YEAR ONE OF THE NIGHTHAWKS:

THE COMEBACK KIDS

It all began towards the end of summer as the first signed players showed up in Niverville for training camp. When the dust settled, the regular season roster was finalized.

At the end of training camp, 19-year-old Brett Tataryn was named the first captain in the team’s history.

“Everyone we brought in here is leading in their own way, just with how they take care of themselves and their teammates,” said head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech. “All that said, the opportunity to name a 19-year-old Brett Tataryn as captain was too appealing. He’s a player who doesn’t say much, but when he does, people listen. His teammates would do anything for him because they know he’d do the same for them.”

Tataryn did everything a captain should all season, leading the club as a big voice both in the locker room and on the ice.

“I was very excited to be named captain by this team,” said Tataryn. “I’ve always been in the leader role wherever I play. It kind of just happens naturally. But yes, I was definitely trying to give myself the best chance to be the captain.”

MinnesotaMafia

The Nighthawks brought in players from all over North America. But the nucleus was a group of players from northern Minnesota and North Dakota who all grew up in towns only a few hours’ drive from Niverville.

Carson Reed came from Warroad, while Gavin Gunderson grew up in nearby Roseau. The two towns, about 20 miles apart on the Minnesota side of the international border, are famous hockey rivals.

Travel a shade farther south and you’d find Brendan Bottem’s hometown of Thief River Falls. Braden Panzer hailed from Grand Forks, North Dakota and Ty Kennett comes from Red Lake Falls.

All five players took on critical roles for the first-year Nighthawks— and within the ranks of the team, they became known as the “Minnesota Mafia.”

The team’s assistant general manager, Mike McAulay, could go on at length about these American acquisitions and the tremendous value they brought to the team. He said they all have the skills necessary to compete in the North American

Hockey League (NAHL), one of the top junior leagues in the U.S.

“They really looked at Niverville being a first-year team and thought they could come in and play a key role right off the bat, which would help with their development,” said McAulay.

HomeOpener

Hundreds of fans flooded into Niverville’s CRRC on September 17 to be part of history in the making. They came for the inaugural home game and official kickoff of the community’s initiation into the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

A stream of dignitaries followed the team’s players onto the ice before the game, including Nighthawks president Clarence Braun, Premier Heather Stefanson, MLA Ron Schuler, MP Ted Falk, Niverville mayor Myron Dyck, and Kevin Saurette, commissioner of the MJHL.

Premier Stefanson had the honour of dropping the puck.

The Nighthawks didn’t triumph over the Steinbach Pistons that night, but the fans were nevertheless emphatic in their chants and calls

The Nighthawks’ inaugural season went just about as well as it could have for an expansion franchise in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

D JUSTIN BRAUN

from the stands throughout the three periods of aggressive play.

The party atmosphere carried over into the CRRC’s fieldhouse afterward, where fans enjoyed a fundraising social featuring live music. On tap, patrons savoured their first taste of the Nighthawks’ signature beer, created by Winnipeg craft beer makers Torque Brewing.

EarlyWins

A few nights later, on September 21, the Nighthawks earned their first win, defeating the Winkler Flyers on the road by a dominant 5–1 score.

After the team’s win in Winkler, Cech thought the team had the potential to do some damage.

“Winning that first one against Winkler was one of the best of the season because it showed we could compete with anyone,” said Cech. “And our first win couldn’t have come in a better place, as so many of us Nighthawks had once been in the Winkler organization.”

The first win was a sign of things to come. Ten games into the season, the Nighthawks had put themselves in a playoff spot, a spot that they never relinquished.

What did Cech think was the biggest surprise about his team?

“That we were able to score goals, as I think we finished fourth in the league in goal-scoring,” he said. “So it was perhaps the biggest surprise that we could put the puck in the net as often as we did.”

Throughout the season, the Nighthawks gained a reputation for their comebacks in games when they trailed by multiple goals. Obviously no team wants to fall behind, but Niverville just had a knack for staying resilient and fighting their way into the win column.

“If we’re down, we can come back,” said Cech. “We almost got too comfortable playing from behind. But those big comeback wins are really fun, and fun for the fans when we’re playing at home.”

TheSlump

When the calendar rolled into 2023, the Nighthawks met their biggest challenge of the season—a slump. They struggled to get things going between January and February, in-

cluding a particularly brutal six-game losing streak.

“The toughest moment was when Winkler scored a game-winning goal on us with 23 seconds left in regulation, in a game in which we were up on them,” Cech recalled. “The good thing, though, is we really learned from those mistakes. The guys embraced that challenge, but it took a little longer for us to get out of that slump than we wanted.”

Did anything change from the first half of the season to the second?

“Regarding the second half of the season, I have lots of people telling me that we didn’t play as well,” he said. “But I just think teams were ready for us. As soon as you see a new team, your guard naturally goes down. It’s just human nature. I know teams did that against us in the first half of the year. In the second half, teams brought their best against us every single night. To win some big games when everyone was bringing their best, that’s what propelled us into the playoffs and then into a really good series with Portage.”

InauguralGala

On February 23, the first annual Nighthawks Red Carpet Gala was held at the Heritage Centre in Niverville. The fundraising event brought 270 attendees out on a bitterly cold night to meet and celebrate their MJHL home team and demonstrate support for the nascent franchise.

Guests were treated to a full course of appetizers, entrees, wine, and dessert, not to mention an evening packed with entertainment.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Andrew Harris, four-time Grey Cup winner.

More than $30,000 was raised to provide operational funding for the team and assist with infrastructure improvements at the home rink.

“The Niverville Nighthawks add one more piece to the fabric of this really awesome community,” said Ray Dowse, the team’s vice-president, in his remarks.

Dowse spoke at length about how the franchise has already made such an indelible impact on the town of Niverville as a whole, and he expressed confidence that the team can only further Niverville’s notoriety for being a progressive place to live.

“I don’t think many people realize the impact the Nighthawks will have on our town’s identity,” he said.

TeamAwards

At the end of the regular season, the club handed out its team awards to some key players who helped make the Nighthawks a success.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award went to Josh Paulhus, who led the team in year one with 61 points in 56 games.

Both the Rookie and Outstanding First Year Performer Awards went to defenceman Carson Reed, who was exceptional on the team’s blueline with 26 points in 50 games.

Captain Brett Tataryn earned the Humanitarian Award, not only for his on-ice play but for his community work. Tataryn scored 35 points in 47 games during the regular season.

Braden Panzer was named Forward of the Year, having scored a fantastic 41 points in 47 games.

Evan Bortis was the Defencemen of the Year. Lorette’s Merik Boles was the Fan Favourite, while Carter Spirig won the Coaches’ Award.

Rounding out the winners was Fran Giesbrescht, who took home Most Dedicated Volunteer.

“To receive a team award was a big honour,” said Tataryn. “I know that myself and the whole team were honoured to be able to represent the town of Niverville in the way that we did all season.”

The Nighthawks finished the regular season in fourth place in the MJHL’s East Division with a record of 26–28–4. Despite a late-season surge from the Selkirk Steelers, the Nighthawks held on and qualified for the postseason.

PlayoffSeries

At that point, the Nighthawks had achieved their biggest and most important goal. Making the playoffs in year one was something special.

In the first round, Niverville met up with the Portage Terriers, the topranked team in the MJHL. Portage finished with 34 more points in the regular season than the Nighthawks.

Even so, playoff hockey in Niverville was electric when the CRRC hosted games two and four to raucous sold-out crowds.

Although Portage dispatched the Nighthawks four games to one, the series was a lot closer than it may appear on paper.

The first four games were incredible from Niverville’s point of view, as they could have gone either way. The Nighthawks showed that they could hang with Portage.

Game one was a double overtime thriller in which the Nighthawks missed several breakaways before ultimately losing. Back home in game two, the Nighthawks led twice but couldn’t close it out.

On the road for game three, the Nighthawks were able to claw their way back into the series with a thrilling 5–4 win in which Tataryn potted home the game-winner with under five minutes remaining in regulation.

For what it’s worth, this was the third time Niverville managed to beat the Terriers while in Portage.

With the series now 2–1 for Portage, the teams met up for a wild game four in Niverville.

For the fourth straight game, the Nighthawks scored the game’s first goal. However, they couldn’t hold the lead as Portage fought back to snatch the victory.

Finally, they blitzed Niverville in game five to take the series.

Goaltender Chris Fines was the team’s most valuable player during the playoffs, standing on his head for each and every game. Fines always gave the Nighthawks a chance to win, which is exactly what you need in playoff hockey.

FondestMemory

Looking back, the moment that Cech recalls most fondly from the season was the team’s last two wins against the Portage Terriers, one which occurred in a regular season shootout and the other in game three of their playoff series.

“Playoff hockey is incredible and something we want to get back to every year, and do even better next season,” said Cech. “Even though we lost in five games, we were up in every single game except for game five. So I don’t have any disappointment in my heart for the way that it finished. We played that team strong, and we left it all out there. If a couple of bounces go our way, it’s a different story.”

2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

KELVIN CECH

During our first season, we were constantly asked about expectations, and it was a difficult question. How do you put expectations on something for which you have no barometer? I knew what I wanted things to look like, sure, but that’s also a recipe for madness.

We needed to work as hard as we could to develop a foundation of class and integrity in hockey operations, and we did that.

The result was overwhelmingly positive.

When you’re building something new and you want to recruit exceptional people, you’re bound to share all of the benefits of your operation. Worry about what you do have, not what you don’t.

Well, I’m telling you now that it was an impossible task in hindsight because we simply didn’t have a lot. Nowhere to put the players. Nowhere to put the coaches. No jerseys, no colours. No pucks!

And that’s changed. Now we have a rock-solid core of players from all over who care deeply about

our community, and most importantly of all for each other.

Our players compete for each other on and off the ice. Our fitness testing days at ShopGym are legendary. Our presence in the community is well-known (although a lot of what we do happens away from the bright lights, because it’s more important to do something because it’s the right thing instead of doing it for the sake of doing it).

We have more local players coming through our system because our scouts are second to none. Yes, local players matter. Of course they do! But what also matters to me is the years given to Niverville by young men from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Minnesota, Grand Forks, and Wisconsin. They could play anywhere, and they choose to play here.

Home ice advantage is powerful for us because of our game night experience. We have the best volunteers in the business, of that there is no doubt in my mind. We have kids who sing “Sweet Caroline” to pass the time when something breaks. It’s

a certified Thing now. How awesome is that?

And we have the Flight Crew, a team of off-ice assistants that is near and dear to my heart, who help with laundry, water bottles, and general team morale. They are more important than anyone and represent all that is well and good about our organization.

We have a sign in our dressing room that says “How We Do Anything Is How We Do Everything.” That means we’re not done. We’re more focused on what we do have than what we don’t, but we’re not satisfied. We’re content (finally), but we want to push for more. We want to be a nation-wide destination for players who want to be part of something greater than themselves and become better brothers, husbands, and fathers because of it.

So we’re not done. We know we can push for more, push higher.

Push for new heights.

KELVIN CECH HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

New heights. That’s the message going into our second year as a team, a franchise, and a gathering point for a town of hockey-mad Nivervillians.

D SCOTT STROH

MJHL? WHAT IS THE

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is the oldest junior league in Canada, established in 1917–18 as the Winnipeg and District Junior Hockey League. In 1933, it was renamed to the current title.

In the league’s inaugural season, the Selkirk Fishermen defeated the Fort Rouge Wanderers to win the league’s first championship.

The Turnbull Memorial Trophy, also known popularly as the Turnbull Cup, has been the MJHL championship trophy for more than a hundred years, and it’s highly coveted. The trophy was donated in 1920 in honour of Captain Walter James “Ollie” Turnbull, veteran of World War I. Turnbull was killed in active duty in 1916 and awarded the Military Cross for Bravery.

The Selkirk Fishermen defeated the Winnipeg Young Men’s Lutheran Club in 1920 to earn the first championship. In 2019, the Portage Terriers became the one hundredth team awarded the Turnbull Cup.

In the 1940s and 1950s, most MJHL teams were sponsored by NHL teams and sported names such as the Winnipeg Black Hawks, St.

Over the years, more than two hundred MJHL players have gone on to the NHL, and 11 of those MJHL graduates have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including a host of major talents like Andy Bathgate, Turk Broda, Art Coulter, Bobby Clarke, Charlie Gardiner, Bryan Hextall, Tom Johnson, Harry Oliver, Babe Pratt, Terry Sawchuk, and Jack Stewart.

In that time, the MJHL has produced 14 national championship teams, winning 11 Memorial Cups and three Centennial/RBC Cups.

Today, the MJHL is a 13-team Junior A ice hockey league operating in Manitoba and one of nine member leagues of the umbrella organization, the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

Of the MJHL’s 13 teams, eight qualify for each year’s playoffs. The playoff champion is awarded the

ewan for the ANAVET Cup and a berth to the Centennial Cup (which was formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup).

The MJHL has developed into a tough, competitively balanced league, with any team able to win on any given day. This has created some tremendous playoff series to the delight of the league’s loyal fanbase.

The MJHL continues a very rich tradition of developing players for advancement to the higher levels of hockey. When a player decides to play for an MJHL team, he will be joining an impressive group of young men who have played in the league and gone on to greatness in the NHL and in other careers.

The Niverville Nighthawks are proud to enter into their second season and become a force to be reckoned with in the MJHL.

Boniface Canadiens, and Winnipeg Rangers. Turnbull Cup and then competes against the champion from Saskatchewan for the ANAVET Cup and a

MJHL ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: REMEMBERING

THE LEGENDS

With only one season under their collective belt, the Nighthawks are still brand-new. So this year, we are taking the opportunity to look back at the life and career of a couple of the greatest alumni of the MJHL—players who have helped put Manitoba on the map.

EdBelfour

Ed Belfour was born in Carman on April 21, 1965. He wanted to be a goalie at the age of four when his parents first took him to the local arena. He started skating by the time he was five but didn’t start playing goalie full-time until he was 11 or 12.

Growing up, Belfour lived with his sister Patricia and parents Henry and Alma in a three-bedroom bungalow. His father was a maintenance worker for the town. From an early age, Eddie and his buddies spent hours at a time playing hockey at the outdoor rink. On days when it was super cold, Belfour took off his skates and had his mom rub his feet until the feeling returned to his toes.

He then went right back out and played hockey for a few more hours.

Belfour’s first job was a paper route which helped pay for hockey.

“He’s always been so competitive,” recalls his mom, Alma. “So when the paper ran a contest to see who could get the most subscriptions, he canvassed the whole area and won the contest. He won a stereo, and it’s the one we used for many years.”

Belfour watched Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night and idolized Chicago Blackhawks netminder Tony Esposito and Soviet legend Vladislav Tretiak, often emulating them while playing street hockey. He became a goalie after

seeing the cool-looking masks and acrobatic saves they made on TV.

Belfour faced his fair share of obstacles, but he always dreamed of making the NHL. That dream may have seemed far-fetched, especially when he was cut as a 15-year-old from his Carman Cougars high school team. He eventually battled his way back onto the roster as a backup goalie and later became the starter.

After graduating, Belfour joined the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers for the 1983–84 season and spent three years there. He was 21 by the time he played his last game in Winkler. He went undrafted by the NHL for several years but did manage to earn a scholarship to play hockey at the University of North Dakota.

In his freshman year, Belfour went 29–4 and led the Fighting Sioux to the NCAA championship.

Then the NHL finally came knocking. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 1987.

Belfour had an interesting setup during his early years in Chicago. Vladislav Tretiak was his goalie coach, and the other goalie was Dominik Hasek.

His 1990–91 campaign was one of the greatest rookie seasons anyone’s ever had. He played in 74 of the team’s 80 games and went 43–19–7, leading the league in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage.

When the awards night came around at the end of the year, Belfour left with a lot of hardware, including the Calder, Vezina, and William Jennings Trophies. He was also runner-up for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Belfour followed up his dream rookie season by leading the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup finals in the 1992 season, where they ran into Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who promptly swept them for their second straight Stanley Cup.

As time goes on and the Nighthawks franchise grows stronger and more storied, Niverville is going to look back at its deep bench of alumni who went on to achieve great things, both in their hockey careers and in their personal lives. We are excited to eventually fill this space with those players’ uniquely inspiring stories!

D MANITOBA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

After five more years in Chicago, Belfour was dealt to San Jose and from there signed with the Dallas Stars. In 1998, Belfour led Dallas to the conference finals.

The pinnacle of Eddie’s career came the following year when he helped the Stars clinch the 1999 Stanley Cup, so far the lone Cup in the club’s history.

For those who don’t remember, Dallas won game six over the Buffalo Sabres in triple overtime off a highly controversial Brett Hull goal that people are still talking about today.

After a few stints in Toronto and Florida, Belfour retired from hockey in 2008, finishing with a 484–320–125 record in 963 NHL games—a full 76 of which were shutouts. He also had 88 playoff wins. In addition to his Stanley Cup and 2002 Olympic gold medal, Belfour won the Calder Trophy (1991), two Vezina Trophies (1991, 1993), and four William Jennings Trophies (1991, 1993, 1995, 1999). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

Today he lives in Dallas, where he and his son Dayn run a distillery called Belfour Spirits. He still gets to Carman a few times a year to see his parents and other family and friends.

So how did he make the big leagues and build such an amazing career despite being pegged as a long shot early on?

“Growing up in a small town in Canada and watching Hockey Night in Canada and playing for the Stanley Cup every day on the street,” he answers. “We had a really competitive high school. I played a lot of sports, and I was a pretty good athlete. Obviously, a God-given talent, never give up, never quit, and always give 110 percent.”

BillJuzda

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Conn Smythe might have said it best: Bill Juzda had “guts to burn, and gave every ounce, every game.”

Juzda was arguably the hardest-hitting player of the 1940s. A stay-at-home defenceman, he never lost control of the puck when it was in his team’s end. His philosophy? If you have the puck on your stick, never give it away.

He was so good at hitting people as a halfback in football that the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers tried to acquire his services. They failed, since the CFL couldn’t pay the same kind of money he could make in the NHL.

Juzda had a few colourful nicknames on the ice, such as The Beast, Bouncing Bill, and The Honest Brakeman. The last one is a reference to his summertime job working on the railroad.

He was born in Winnipeg on October 29, 1920, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, and grew up in the area known today as Point Douglas.

Early on, the 5’9” Juzda was a natural athlete. He was a star on the football field and soccer pitch. He held his high school’s shotput record for more than four decades.

Amazingly, he didn’t start skating until he was well into high school.

His son Stuart recalls his father’s beginnings in the game of hockey.

“The junior team in his area, the Elmwood Maple Leafs, were a late entry into the city league,” says Stuart. “All of the other kids who were playing hockey at that time in the city had already been scouted and taken by the other teams. So the person who was starting up the Elmwood team went around to different high schools in Winnipeg and asked the Phys Ed teachers who the best athletes at their school were who didn’t already play hockey… I don’t

“You had players who went off to the war, like himself, who were coming home and wanted to get back into the game,” says Stuart. “And then you had the younger fellows who had come up and wanted to keep their jobs.”

While with the Rangers, Juzda was involved in one of the greatest fights of all time. It came on March 16, 1947 against Montreal. A bench-clearing brawl broke out late in the game, and everyone who dressed for that game participated. A total of 15 fights broke out over the course of a couple of minutes.

Hockey historian Stan Fischler wrote that Maurice “Rocket” Richard broke his stick over Juzda’s head that day, snapping it in two.

This was just one chapter in the long-standing on-ice feud between Richard and Juzda. One particular night, Juzda hit Richard so hard that the Plexiglas shattered. Plexiglas was new to the league then and no one had thought it could be broken.

even think he owned skates, since his family was so poor at the time.”

That was Juzda’s introduction to organized hockey. He played a season with Elmwood and came to love his new sport.

It turned out that he was pretty good—enough to join the Kenora Thistles of the MJHL for the 1939–40 season. He helped get Kenora to the 1940 Memorial Cup final in Winnipeg. Although Kenora ultimately fell to the Oshawa Generals, three games to one, Juzda’s strong play and sturdiness on the blueline got the attention of the NHL.

The next season, Juzda made his debut with the New York Rangers, an incredible fact considering he had only played hockey for two years.

“He went to the Rangers right away because [World War Two] was on, I guess,” remarks Stuart. “What had happened is a number of the league’s players went into the service all around the same time, so the teams had to stock up their squads quickly. There were more opportunities for younger guys like my dad to get into the league.”

Juzda ended up going into the service himself in 1942. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a pilot. When the war ended, he rejoined the Rangers despite heavy competition for roster spots.

Juzda was eventually traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1948, and that’s where he won his first Stanley Cup—in his first season for Toronto. He went on to win a second Cup there in 1951.

By the end of 1952, Juzda had played his last NHL game. His two Stanley Cups were, of course, the big highlights of his nine-year career. A two-time all-star, he only had 398 penalty minutes in his entire career, matching his career games number. This speaks to how clean his game was, despite being a physical player.

After his hockey career, Juzda continued his work as an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway. He also coached local hockey, from midget all the way up to senior. He played a big role in developing many aspiring young hockey players from Manitoba.

Juzda, who passed away at the age of 87, is remembered today not only as a champion but also as a man who gave a lot back to his hometown. Juzda is an honoured member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

“He was always a very modest guy in everything he did,” says Stuart. “The city wanted to name a street after him in East Kildonan, and he refused. ‘Why me?’ he thought.”

D MANITOBA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

In its first season, the Nighthawks distinguished itself as an organization by making big, impactful contributions to the whole region.

“There are so many factors that helped this organization get on its feet last year,” says Ray Dowse, vice-president of the board. “However, a critical piece is all the people and organizations who have made the choice to join the community ownership group.”

Community ownership means that the team is effectively owned by members of the community, both the individuals and businesses who choose to invest.

Because the organization operates as a non-profit, Dowse says that those who invest have done so “with the understanding that the greatest return will be the positive impact it will have on the community and region as a whole.”

There are two types of shareholders in the Nighthawks organization: founder shareholders and legacy shareholders.

Both groups are essential to the club’s success.

The founder shareholders are the backbone of the Nighthawks. Each founder shareholder has voting rights, and the group collectively assumes the team’s operational and financial responsibilities.

The team’s board of directors has been selected from the founder shareholders.

The cost to become a founder shareholder was pegged at $10,000. That money has been used for team start-up and operational costs.

“Having a significant number of shareholders such as this backing the organization is positive for the Nighthawks,” Dowse says. “It creates a very strong foundation for the team to work from going forward.”

He adds that those who have signed on as founder shareholders enjoy several significant benefits. Founder shareholders have the first chances to secure team sponsorships, season tickets, and exclusive events and merchandise.

The second group of owners, legacy shareholders, also play a significant part in the organization.

“Although legacy shareholders do not have voting rights, they receive regular team communication, copies of annual team financials, and the option to secure season tickets and passes to team events before being offered to the general public, along with some team merchandise.”

Although there are many opportunities to be involved with team operations, legacy shareholders are not required to foot any additional financial responsibilities or obligations other than the initial purchase.

The cost of a legacy share is $1,400. Of that cost, $1,000 is eligible for a tax receipt from the Town of Niverville. The majority of the funds raised through these legacy shares will be used directly for infrastructure at the CRRC.

The Nighthawks are still growing their pool of legacy shareholders, so now is a great time to consider getting involved.

The Nighthawks are truly a community franchise in every sense of the word, to the point where members of the public are able to own a piece of the team.

D SCOTT STROH

THE REAL GAME DAY HEROES: VOLUNTEERS

“Everything ran smoothly all season thanks to our many dedicated volunteers,” says Fran Giesbrecht, the team’s volunteer coordinator. “We had about 30 volunteers who were very dedicated to the team and were there pretty much for every game. And on my list, I had 60 to 65 in total people who were able to volunteer here and there.”

That said, there is always room for more.

“A lot of our volunteers are older and busy with their own children, so we’re also putting out the call for young adults who are interested in helping out,” she adds.

To celebrate the incredible community spirit on display last season, let’s take a look at just a few of the

key volunteers who helped make the Nighthawks’ inaugural campaign a big success.

CrystalDrzewiec

Crystal Drzewiec lives in Niverville and found out about volunteering with the Nighthawks from her fellow townspeople. Her kids also play hockey locally, so it seemed like the right fit.

“We started off with a planning game ops committee, and I just took on whatever they needed help with,” says Drzewiec. “Everyone communicated and worked really well to make it come together, and I had many other teams in the league who said they were extremely impressed,

with it being the inaugural season and all.”

Drzewiec and other volunteers typically arrived two hours prior to puck drop.

When the game started, she was constantly running around the rink as a jack-of-all-trades, doing her part to ensure that the game experience ran as smoothly as possible.

“On game days, I just did what needed to be done so it ran smoothly and fans had a great experience,” says Drzewiec. “Behind the scenes, I was booking teams for intermission, helping sponsors plan and accommodate their needs, making sure volunteers were happy and had little things like water, putting pucks on ice before the game, and getting our

It’s no secret that volunteers are the heart and soul of the Niverville Nighthawks. Without them, the team couldn’t function the way it does.

D SCOTT STROH

Maple Leaf Seventh Skater off the ice to Autograph Alley.”

Drzewiec will be back volunteering for the 2023–24 season. She’s not sure yet what exact role she’ll have, but she’s excited to help.

“Favourite moments from the season were the wins the team had and seeing the crowd get hyped with fast-paced hockey and the community coming together during the games. Also, meeting new awesome people in the community. And most of all, seeing the kids getting autographs and interacting with the players. Seeing the kids and fans get so excited and happy, with the smiles on their faces, is something I will never forget. All of the volunteers had a very important role, and Fran Giesbrecht was our anchor. But again, everyone contributed enormously.”

KevinDunn

Kevin Dunn wanted to get involved with the Nighthawks in some capacity as soon as it was confirmed that the team was coming to Niverville.

After many years involved with the Manitoba Junior Baseball League and Winnipeg Senior Baseball League—in various roles from coach, manager, and board director—Dunn figured it was time to shift his focus to a different sport.

“I knew giving back to the community was what I wanted to do,” says Dunn. “This was a perfect opportunity.”

Dunn had the chance to sit down with board members Ray Dowse and Jeremy Braun early on and talk about where they needed help most.

“My professional background is in sales and marketing, and it was a good fit and good timing as the organization was just starting to become more public.”

One of Dunn’s key responsibilities before the season even dropped a puck was to start planning what a game day would look like from an operations standpoint.

“As more people came on board and we started getting direction from the board on what we wanted to create as an organization, different groups formed, and we were empowered and engaged in producing plans for the upcoming season.”

Fast-forward to the first puck drop. Not only did Dunn volunteer his time to manage game day operations, but he also took on the challenge as serving as the in-game PA announcer.

Dunn intends to be back in that same role this coming season.

“Having a year under us has taught me what we can do better, what we can enhance, and what we can do to create more for the fan experience,” Dunn says. “All that said, it doesn’t feel like volunteering, and it doesn’t even feel like it’s work. It’s just fun.”

hours early to prepare floats, drink tokens, 50/50 buckets, etc. She kept busy throughout the game and was always among the last to leave the rink afterward.

Reuther is planning on returning to assist with the team next year and was quick to purchase her season tickets again.

“I had just recently moved to Niverville and most appreciated the support and direct hands-on approach from the team’s board, committee members, and volunteer coordinator. I was made to feel very welcome to the community.”

who let his dad know that the team was looking for volunteers for the team’s inaugural season.

Luc said yes right away, as it was a chance for him to get back into hockey.

A typical day at the rink for David consists of getting there two hours and fifteen minutes early. From there, he gets to work with his colleague, Darryl Rempel, to get all the tables up for game day operations, set up the bars, and prepare the lobby and mezzanine. Then he turns his attention to hockey operations, which includes getting pucks, water bottles, and towels in place in the penalty box and setting up pyramids on both benches.

“I speak with the trainers of visiting teams to see if they need anything. We usually have a quick meeting with Kevin Dunn and Crystal for special events during the game. I also get game pucks ready from Mitch and am responsible for carpets on the ice at ceremonies and intermission events.”

During the game, Rempel and David keep track of shots from all onice players. These league stats are conveyed to the head scorekeeper during and after the game.

When the game ends, they take it all down and get all the equipment and game-related materials back to their locker.

David lives in nearby Île-desChênes and is proud of what the Nighthawks bring to the region.

DanaReuther

Dana Reuther loves hockey, and she was quick to buy a pair of Nighthawks season tickets as soon as possible. She couldn’t wait to get involved with the expansion team.

“I saw a social media post that they were looking for committee members, so I sent in my name,” says Reuther. “I was quickly scooped up and never sat in my seat. I just gave my tickets away each game— some to family, some through Facebook, and some at the rink. Someone was in those seats every game.”

On a typical game day, Reuther showed up at the rink two and a half

LucDavid

Luc David is another of the team’s most important volunteers. He has been around from the start and helps every home game run smoothly from an operations standpoint.

“I knew we had a Junior A team coming to Niverville for some time, and that was exciting for me as I always loved hockey,” he says. “I was involved as a coach for many years when our three boys played and was a statistician when they were with the Eastman Selects.”

David’s eldest son, Mitch, is the Nighthawks’ equipment manager and goalie scout. And it was Mitch

“Our son Mitch lives here in Niverville, and so do many friends. As we got to know and meet so many people in the community, getting involved feels even more significant. It’s volunteering that brings a community together, and the Nighthawks was something I thought I could contribute to.”

Luc David will be continuing his duties for the upcoming season— and so will Darryl!

VolunteerOpportunity

If you are interested in joining the Nighthawks’ dynamic family of volunteers, please reach out to Fran Giesbrecht to learn about the many opportunities available.

To start helping out today, email: volunteer@mjhlnighthawks.ca.

Crystal Drzewiec

Kevin Dunn

Dana Reuther

Luc David

FLYING HIGH: CELEBRATING THE

FLIGHT CREW

The Flight Crew is made up of local students with physical or cognitive disabilities. They take care of pregame preparations and attend the CRRC nearly every day to help out wherever their services are needed.

Each crew member, with the help of educational assistants at the high school, have specific jobs based on their talents. This includes (but is not limited to) washing water bottles, doing laundry, and cleaning pucks.

On game days, the students have an even bigger role. They set up the equipment and snack tables for the team and make sure the game day pucks are ready to go. They also hand out programs, stamp hands, and scan tickets at the door.

The Nighthawks benefit greatly from the Flight Crew, but there are perks for the crew too. They learn valuable life skills in the process.

“The adult services available in this community are kind of slim to none, and we figured we have these kids who have so much to offer,” says Raelyn Voulgaris, the learning support teacher at Niverville High Sshool. “We don’t want them to leave our community.”

Another perk for the crew is getting to play with Nighthawks players

in the gym. Voulgaris says that for some of these kids, a standard gym class would be quite intimidating.

“We have kids who are wheelchair users, kids who are blind, so a regular game of dodgeball isn’t going to always work,” Voulgaris says. “So we worked with our occupational therapist to create a bunch of modified gym activities.

The Flight Crew’s gym time was improved further last winter with the help of Chantal Todd, the recreation programmer for the Town of Niverville, who applied for a grant that has allowed the group to purchase modified gym equipment and pay three Nighthawks team members to run activities.

“Niverville Rec can’t wait to see what other grants we can get to further this wonderful partnership with the Flight Crew students and the Nighthawks,” says Todd

The collaboration is ideal. The students get dedicated support from athletes and the athletes can use these positions on their resumes.

And, of course, everyone has fun.

“This is a great time for both us and the Flight Crew,” says Nighthawks captain Brett Tataryn. “They are huge supporters of ours and we

try our best to give back to them for all the time, hard work, and support they give us.”

Nighthawks head coach Kelvin Cech also has a lot praise for the Flight Crew.

“One of the bright spots of my day is when the Flight Crew comes in to help out in the dressing room,” Cech says. “There are a lot of details behind the scenes that the players and I value, so having the Flight Crew come in and take on a huge part of that is just massive. We appreciate it so much. The gang is so full of energy and enthusiasm. They take pride in what they’re doing, and we’re simply lucky to have them.”

“These students are so lovely,” adds Voulgaris. “They work so hard and they love it so much and I just want to celebrate them. You have to put them on a really high pedestal and say, ‘Yes, you can! It’s all good! We’ve got you!’”

When asked about how to best describe the fact that these are teens with disabilities or special needs, Voulgaris says, “I like to call the kids ‘students with exceptionalities.’”

That’s a fitting phrase, as the Flight Crew is indeed an exceptional group. They make a big difference!

There is a lot to be done behind the scenes to get the Niverville Nighthawks ready for their games, and that’s where their trusty Flight Crew comes in.

D RAELYN VOULGARIS

BUILDING COMMUNITY BY SHOWING UP:

GIVING BACK

According to head coach Kelvin Cech, community involvement is an important part of the team’s culture.

“For us, getting to connect with the community and the people in town is the most important thing for us and the players,” says Cech. “The players are here to play hockey first and foremost. But these guys have wanted to help out and get involved in the community during their free time. From the start, we have wanted kids with character and compete. We’ve said it from the start, and everyone we’ve brought in has been tremendous humans on and off the ice. That shows with all of the work they’ve done in the Niverville area last season.”

The Nighthawks plan to do even more throughout the community this upcoming season, so stay tuned. You will likely see the players throughout town doing their part to help out.

Here are some of the many community engagements that the Nighthawks took part in during the 2022–23 campaign!

Minor hockey mentoring. Last season, each player was paired up with a Niverville minor hockey team. The Nighthawks worked with those teams’ coaches and attended one practice a week, demonstrating skills and interacting with the stars of tomorrow. This successful and ongoing initiative helps to build connection and form meaningful personal bonds between local kids and the Nighthawks.

The snow angels. This initiative connects players with those who physically cannot shovel their own sidewalks, windrows, or driveways. Last season, Evan Bortis organized his fellow players, deploying them to

the 17 homes on the team’s list after snowfall events.

Special needs gym class. This started off as a volunteer initiative from Gail Chornoboy. Throughout the previous season, the special needs class at Niverville High School got a chance to connect with the team. The students came to the CRRC fieldhouse at 2:00 on Thursday afternoons to interact with the players.

The Flight Crew. The same special needs class from the high school gave back by coming to the rink every day to do laundry, fill the water bottles, take out garbage and recycling, and help with all sorts of the important day-to-day tasks that need doing around the rink.

Cemetery visit. Last fall, the team took part in an effort to help clean up Niverville’s cemetery.

MCC Thrift Store. Between October and November, the Nighthawks sent out player volunteers to sort shoes, clean furniture, set up Christmas decorations, and keep the facility in tip-top shape.

Truth and Reconciliation walk. For Truth and Reconciliation Day last September, the team joined local schools on their walk for solidarity.

Halloween skate. For Halloween, the Nighthawks hosted a special skating event in which all the players dressed up in costumes and skated with the public. The players handed out candy bags. Lots of fun was had by all!

Remembrance Day. On November 11, not only did the team show up en masse to observe this important occasion at the town’s annual ceremony, but they also got involved the day before by moving

chairs and tables to the hall for the ceremony.

Ugly Christmas sweater skate. Similar to what they’d done on Halloween, on December 16 the Nighthawks took part in an ugly christmas sweater skate. The turnout was high, with ministick games happening at one end of the arena while free-skating took place at the other. It was a great end-of-year sendoff for the players as they prepared to head home for the holidays.

Helping Hands. On December 19, the team moved and sorted food donations for Helping Hands, working to get holiday baskets to local families in need. This proved to be a fantastic opportunity to give back.

Drop-in centre. In February, a flight of Nighthawks players visited the local YFC drop-in centre for an exchange of skills. The players passed on their hockey expertise, and the drop-in youth in turn showed them the ins and outs of playing pool and table tennis.

School visits. Throughout February, the Nighthawks visited Niverville Elementary School and Niverville Middle School as part of I Love to Read month. The first visit to the elementary school included a sprawling floor hockey game. The other visits saw the players read to the students.

Daycare reading. The players also helped bring a love of reading to kids at the local daycare at the CRRC, reading books aloud.

Ste. Agathe community skate. Niverville certainly wasn’t the only town to get some love from the Nighthawks. The team also headed over to the Ste. Agathe arena to take part in a public skate.

The Nighthawks were out in force all of last year, getting involved in the community in many meaningful ways. That trend is only going to get stronger as time goes on.

THE UNSUNG HEROES:

BILLET FAMILIES

In their inaugural season, the Nighthawks had a solid base of billet families.

“Our first goal as billet families was to make all the players feel welcome,” says Nighthawks billeting coordinator Gail Chornoboy.

She says that at the end of October, the questions she got from billet homes were largely logistical: “Am I feeding them enough?” or “What are the correct foods?”

“Towards the end of December, though, we had made connections with the players and we had tears in our eyes when the guys went home for Christmas,” Chornoboy says.

She notes that January 10 was a big day. This was the final day for the Nighthawks to lock in their roster.

“All of the billet families were scared to take a call from me around that time because that usually meant someone had been traded or cut.”

Everything went without a hitch last season, so although the first season of billets was a learning experience, it was also a big success.

TheGerbrandts (Carter Spirig)

Kristina Gerbrandt and her family welcomed Nighthawks forward Carter Spirig into their home.

“My husband Kevin’s family used to billet for the Winnipeg Saints a long time ago,” says Kristina. “So when we found out Niverville was getting an MJHL team, we figured it would be a great idea. Also, since our oldest started playing hockey for the first time last year, it was a great way for him to see and experience firsthand a higher level of hockey.”

The Gerbrandts have three young boys: Brody (9), Wyatt (4), and Hunter (2). And when the family welcomed in Spirig as one of their own, he very

quickly became a big role model to the boys.

“We invited him to everything we did, family-wise,” Kristina says. “He spent his evenings with us, playing ministicks with the kids, helping out with our oldest hockey team practices, watching movies, playing games, and even going on grocery shopping trips. Our family is busy and loud, and clearly it didn’t bother him!”

The Gerbrandt kids enjoyed texting, video-chatting, and calling Spirig during the off-season and couldn’t wait to see him again.

“We didn’t just gain Carter, but we gained a friendship with his family too. It’s been a great experience,” says Kristina. “If you’re on the fence about billeting, give it a try. Open your home if you have room to one young man who’s learning to navigate a whole other world.”

TheFriesens

(Chris

Fines)

Karly Friesen and her family billeted Nighthawks netminder Chris Fines last season.

“My husband read an article in The Citizen about the team needing billet families and showed it to me, saying, ‘Hey, this would be cool!’ From that moment on, I knew it was something I wanted us to do,” says Karly. “I loved the idea of providing a loving, safe, and supportive home and family for someone away from their own home. And our kids loved the idea of gaining an older brother. However, pretty much everyone else in our lives thought we were crazy for taking this on with two young kids and another on the way.”

Like all the other billet families, the Friesens weren’t prepared for how fast Fines would become a part of their family, which included Karly

and Adam and their three children, Isabel (4), Lucas (2), and Hannah (4 months).

“Personally, I was not prepared for what being a goalie mom would feel like,” she says. “Chris is an amazing young man and someone who I genuinely love spending time with. Our kids look up to him and bragged about having the Nighthawks goalie as a brother. He was a part of family outings and gatherings. He helped with running errands and watching the kids. We played games, watched movies, ate lots of food, and laughed a lot!”

Karly adds that the relationship they have with Chris is one not many people are able to fully understand.

“He’s just a part of our family now and will always have a place in our lives, no matter where he lives. He has a great bond with our kids, including our youngest, who was born during the season. It has been a hard adjustment to life without him, but we look forward to opening our home and hearts to another player this next season.”

The Friesens would also encourage people to think about billeting. Karly knows firsthand that it won’t be a disappointing experience.

“Communication is key,” she says. “Set clear expectations, rules, and guidelines. Encourage them to spend time with the family and be someone they can rely on. You will feel heartbroken when they move out. But that’s when you know you’re doing it right. This Nighthawks community is supportive and encouraging. These boys need stability and encouragement from loving families while they’re away from home and under an incredible amount of pressure. But it’s also an amazing experience to be loved by them in return.”

Among the most underrated heroes in any junior hockey organization is the local billet families who host players throughout the season and give them a home away from home.

Carter Spirig with the Gerbrandt family: Kristina, Hunter, Wyatt, Brody, and Kevin.

Chris Fines with the Friesen family: Adam, Lucas, Isabel, Hannah, and Karly.

Hailing from Argyle, a small village just northwest of Winnipeg, Brett Tataryn made his mark last season as the first captain in the history of the Niverville Nighthawks.

BRETT TATARYN

Tataryn played his first year in the MJHL during the 2021–22 season, seeing action in 54 games for the OCN Blizzard, scoring nine goals and adding 11 assists as a strong twoway forward.

The expansion Nighthawks then traded for Tataryn’s rights just before the 2022 MJHL Draft.

One day towards the end of training camp, head coach Kelvin Cech called four players into his office and produced four jerseys: one captain’s jersey and three alternate captains’ sweaters.

Tataryn’s jersey was the last one to be passed out—and it had the letter “C” on it.

“The main reason I wanted to be a Nighthawk was that I wanted to explore and change my junior experience,” says Tataryn. “I figured joining a new franchise would be a perfect chance to do that. Coming in, I had zero expectations because I had no idea of the behind-the-scenes part of how starting a new hockey franchise

worked. It was an honour to be named the captain of such a great group. And it is pretty special to be named the first captain in franchise history. It really meant a lot to me.”

Tataryn went on to have a career-high season, scoring 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points in 47 games for the Nighthawks over the course of the year.

Throughout the season, Tataryn led the Nighthawks not only on the ice but off the ice as well.

“We had several volunteer activities ranging from snow-shovelling service throughout the winter, reading books to kids in the elementary school, and working with the special needs class in the CRRC gymnasium,” he says.

One of Tataryn’s favourite aspects of the season was helping to build a new, and hopefully lasting, rivalry against the Steinbach Pistons. He notes how fiery the games between these two squads got, energizing players and fans alike at both rinks.

Qualifying for the MJHL playoffs in the Nighthawks’ inaugural season was also a major highlight for Tataryn and his teammates.

“It was my first junior playoff experience, and I was very proud of our team for making the playoffs and getting our first franchise playoff win,” says Tataryn of the postseason. “Our home crowds were always very loud, and we are so thankful for everyone who came and supported us during the regular season and playoffs. It gave us the ability to feed off of their energy.”

Tataryn’s plans for this coming season are to come back and play his final year of junior hockey in Niverville and make it even further than last season.

“The future is very bright for the Nighthawks organization. Kelvin Cech and the team’s staff have done an amazing job of recruiting, and they will have tons of talent for years to come. I can see a very dominant hockey team for the next few years.”

D SCOTT STROH

THE CAPTAIN’S LOG: LOOKING BACK ON YEAR ONE

The Niverville Nighthawks had a big day at the 2023 MJHL Draft, held on Sunday, June 4 at the Alt Hotel in downtown Winnipeg, making five selections and trading for a new potential starting goaltender.

THE DRAFT: NIGHTHAWKS MAKE

BIG MOVES

To start the day, the Nighthawks made a trade. They received 18-yearold goaltender Keegan Gordon from the Winnipeg Freeze in exchange for a 2023 draft pick and future considerations.

Despite playing on the last-place Winnipeg Freeze last season, Gordon put up an exceptional .915 save percentage, which is even more incredible considering the fact that his record on the year was 2–22–2.

“We identified Keegan a while back and felt like he was the guy who could take us to the next level,” says head coach Kelvin Cech. “With Raiden LeGall also waiting to play this season, we’re happy with our two goaltenders. There’s a lot of things that we need to do to upgrade the lineup and fill some holes, but that’s a good place to start in the net with this pickup.”

When the draft began, the Nighthawks owned the fifth overall pick in the first round and promptly selected forward Gavin Holod of Stonewall. Last season, Holod played U18 AAA hockey with the Interlake Lightning and scored 27 points in 44 games.

Cech notes that he is very happy that Holod slid to the fifth spot, as he likely would have selected him if they’d had the first overall pick.

“Our scouting staff has been watching Gavin all season and looked at him closely,” says Cech. “He was there for us when it was our turn to pick. We were ecstatic.”

With the nineteenth pick, the Nighthawks selected forward Caleb Moore from St. Adolphe. Moore played U17 AAA hockey this past season with the Eastman Selects and scored 51 points in 36 games.

“We drafted Caleb because he is a good player and a good human,” says Cech. “It’s just a bonus that he’s a local player.”

With the first pick in round four, the Nighthawks chose defenceman Nathan Forster from Lorette. Forster played U17 AAA hockey with the Eastman Selects last season and scored 31 points in 35 games.

In the sixth round, the Nighthawks drafted Luke Ross from Winnipeg. Ross played with the RHA U16 prep program last season and scored 36 points in 35 games.

Finally, in the eighth round, the Nighthawks selected netminder Quinn Burfoot, also of Winnipeg. Burfoot played for the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy U17 prep team last season and had a 2–11–3 record with an .877 save percentage.

“We’ve had Quinn out to a couple of our camps, and we just really like his game and his style and think he’s got a bright future in the next few years—and we plan on it being with us,” says Cech. “We also added a pair of young defencemen who will develop over the next year or so and will hopefully be part of the Nighthawks in the future.”

At the end of the day, Cech is extremely pleased with the team’s draft results. They were able to draft pretty much everyone they wanted off their list and even traded for a goaltender who should be able to step in and make an impact in the coming season.

“We walked away from this draft with exactly what we wanted,” he says. “So we’re pumped that the future of the club looks even brighter right now.”

D SCOTT STROH

The Niverville Nighthawks entered the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in a big way back at the 2022 MJHL Draft. The coaching staff then had the task of drafting the team’s very first prospects.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT:

NEW PROSPECTS

Lorette’s Avery Laliberte was the first-ever draft pick for the Nighthawks when he was selected fifth overall in the first round.

Nathan Brown (Winnipeg) was then chosen in the second round, while Raiden LeGall (Morden) was the team’s third-round pick.

These three prospects are spread out position-wise in a forward (Brown), a defenceman (Laliberte), and a goalie (LeGall).

So the future is bright for the Nighthawks. All three are likely to have an impact on the team for the upcoming 2023–24 season.

Mike McAulay, assistant general manager, notes that these players had a great training camp in 2022. It was a difficult decision to send them back to their U18 teams.

Laliberte went on to have a fantastic season playing for the RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 team, scoring 30 points in 34 games on the blueline.

“Avery has had a really good year,” says McAulay. “His game really grew this year, and you can tell he’s getting better, stronger, and more confident. He’s going to be a

really good player for us and a solid presence on the blueline.”

Brown scored at more than a point-per-game clip last season with the Winnipeg Bruins U18 AAA, tallying 59 points in 44 games. He also made his Nighthawks debut, skating in three games with the club.

Brown is committed to playing at St. Cloud State after high school, a powerhouse college hockey program. So while he’s likely only going to be a Nighthawk for one season, it’s going to be fantastic for Niverville fans to get the chance to see him in action.

He was also identified by some colleges at an exhibition game in Selkirk early last season. St. Cloud reached out to him, and they saw so much runway in his game that they committed to Brown and offered him a scholarship.

“To have a player of his calibre, he’s a really good combination of skill and grit,” says McAulay. “So we’re super excited to get him in the lineup and get him to give that commitment to us to play in Niverville.”

Finally, LeGall is looking like a heck of a great goalie after a tremendous season with the Pembina Valley

Hawks U18 AAA team. In 23 games, LeGall put up a 17–4–1 record with a 2.16 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.

“Raiden’s play speaks for itself,” McAulay says. “He was the Most Valuable Player of his entire U18 league, and that’s not just top goalie, but the top player. His game has just taken off, and he really has so much talent. His future is really exciting. He’s going to do lots of really good things.”

Although all three of these prospects were cut from their first Nighthawks training camp last year, they went down to the U18 level and did exactly what Niverville’s coaching staff wanted them to do: develop their game and dominate.

“All three of these players are ready to make that next step,” McAulay adds about their prospects, both in Niverville and further abroad. “Character and compete are two things that we absolutely need from every player on this team, and these three guys have that. They’ll be great ambassadors for the community of Niverville as well as excellent hockey players.”

D CRYSTAL STOTT

VOICE OF THE NIGHTHAWKS:

KEVIN PAULS

Pauls has hockey in his blood.

“I grew up playing every sport, including hockey, just not organized,” says Pauls. “My dad built me rinks, and I skated and practiced there.”

He has also coached at all levels of minor hockey as well as some high school and Manitoba development programs. Prior to joining the Nighthawks, he served with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers as their broadcaster.

“I’ve always been an avid hockey fan,” he says. “I grew up watching a lot of hockey and have been a New Jersey Devils fan since the late 1980s. Southern Manitoba had plenty of good hockey to watch at the rink, so I was always at Morden Redskins, Pembina Valley Hawks, or Winkler Flyers games whenever possible.”

Besides watching his kids play, Pauls’ favourite memory in hockey was seeing the New Jersey Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2000.

“Jason Arnott scored in double overtime as some friends and I watched on a tiny 13-inch TV at a cabin. We just went bananas. My friends and I have a tradition of watching hockey outside on the deck, weather permitting, and I’d have to say that’s my favourite thing about hockey now.”

Since first getting into broadcasting in 2009, Pauls has called games for Manitoba AAA U18, SEMHL, High School Hockey, and now the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

After spending the inaugural season as the official voice of the Nighthawks, Pauls has now taken on a new role with the team: marketing and game day director.

He has already started his new responsibilities, which are in addition to his ongoing role as the Hockey TV commentator.

From his unique vantage point, Pauls thought that the team’s first season was really special.

“It was cool to be a fly on the wall for all of the firsts, like the first goal, the first win, and all of the fantastic games. Making the playoffs was really cool, and being able to bring the emotion of those events to people on TV and radio was unreal for my daughter and me.”

Indeed, Pauls’ daughter Lua is right by his side for the broadcasts.

With a new season kicking off, Pauls can hardly wait to get things cranked up all over again. He’s been looking forward to it for months.

“Being able to contribute in the capacity of marketing and game day operations, as well as my broadcasting duties, is such an exciting thing for not only myself but my family as well,” says Pauls. “They know this is something I’ve always wanted to do, so this has all just been so cool. The first season was indeed special, but there are so many great things to come. We are just getting started. I cannot wait for what’s next.”

Kevin Pauls, the official broadcaster for Nighthawks radio and Hockey TV, was born in Winnipeg in 1977 and then raised in Morden, where he continues to live with his wife and three kids.

D SCOTT STROH

UPPER OPTION CLUB SPACE

CLUB BLEACHER DESIGN

INTERIOR ELEVATION - ICE VIEW

CRRC ARENA UPGRADES

COMING THIS WINTER

The Niverville Nighthawks are in the process of making a major addition to their home rink this winter. The state-of-the-art CRRC opened three years ago and is now set to increase its capacity.

From the standpoint of the team’s board of directors, every aspect of the CRRC venue turned out to be a major success during the inaugural season.

“I could not believe the community support and the number of volunteers who came out for every event to help our organization be successful,” says Scott Wallace, head of infrastructure for the Nighthawks. “We had some challenges along the way, but for an inaugural season, it met and exceeded my own personal expectations, mainly because of the success of our volunteers, the Town of Niverville, and our ownership group.”

The board is now in the process of getting additional seating installed with a second level in the northeast corner of the arena, through the help of a government grant.

The CRRC’s seating capacity currently sits at approximately 700 seats, but this will eventually increase to 1,000 after all the upgrades are complete.

When everything is finished, the upgrades will include a sizable bar

area on the main floor, main floor seating, and a second-level seating/ gathering area.

However, this will have to be a multi-phase project.

All infrastructure added to the CRRC by the Nighthawks will also transfer to town ownership.

The team has been working closely with the Town of Niverville to accomplish and align its goals as a community-based club.

“These new seats aren’t necessarily required in year two of the Nighthawks,” says Wallace. “But as an organization such as this, we need to be planning not only for the Nighthawks but also potentially attracting other major events for the town, such as major curling bonspiels, winter games, and convention events in the summer.”

Wallace believes that the upgraded seating will be a great feature to help fans and visitors meet and mingle during Nighthawks games.

However, the ultimate goal of the project goes much further than that.

“Companies can have team events in this area, and it will

definitely be required for any future playoff run we have,” says Wallace. “As we build our Nighthawks culture, the goal is to ensure the community understands that the team belongs to them, as without community support there is no team. We couldn’t be more impressed with our community support.”

The project will take some time to come to fruition, but evidence of construction will soon be visible to CRRC guests.

The Nighthawks have signed a contract with Three Way Builders. As of right now, preparations are underway to get the construction started in October.

This first phase should take roughly three months and be finished early in the new year.

“The home games will not be overly affected, as we only had limited use of this space, which only allowed for 40 to 50 people at best,” Wallace says. “The area will be boarded so the construction is not visible during events.”

The second phase of upgrades has not yet been scheduled.

NIGHTHAWKS AND NEGASH COFFEE

TEAM UP

A portion of the proceeds of all sales of the Nighthawks branded coffee go back to the team.

The Nighthawks are then able to use these funds to contribute toward the team’s operating costs, as well as any upcoming infrastructure needs, such as the east bleacher system and eventually a new permanent dressing room.

The team is structured as a non-profit organization, backed by a community membership group of more than 50 businesses and individuals.

Negash Coffee is one of the team’s founding members, so it was a natural decision for the Nighthawks to partner with them to create a branded coffee.

“Negash is a business that has really become an incredible Niverville success story,” says Nighthawks vice-president Ray Dowse. “Henok Gebre and his team built the business and brand from scratch, investing a significant amount of time, work, and money along the way. His heart for people and the community really shines through in all that he does, and it’s amazing to see how the community has really embraced him and his business. Negash has become one of the local companies that have really helped put Niverville on the map.”

Dowse says that the Nighthawks organization aims to contribute to the identity of Niverville. The collaboration between the team and

Negash creates an opportunity to bring greater visibility to the larger community.

The two entities may have come to the decision mutually, but Dowse says that all decisions about the new coffee blend came from the experts at Negash: owners Henok Gebre and Adam Hashi.

“It was a two-way merge,” says Gebre. “We decided to see if the team was interested in doing a branded coffee, and so we asked them and they were planning to ask us at the same time. It was a true combined idea! So we made a blend, but we can’t really say what it is because the way we created it is really a different type of bean and a different type of roast. We made

The Nighthawks and Negash Coffee were pleased last year to announce their partnership to produce this indisputably delicious team-branded coffee blend.

D SARA BETH DACOMBE

two types, a medium and a dark, so this covers all the bases. We didn’t think about just one person or one group, but about how we can cover the tastes from A to Z. That way, anybody can enjoy this new product that we’ve created.”

That attention to detail most certainly comes through. The coffee’s taste profile showcases the degree to which the family puts their heart into everything they do.

“This is what we love,” says Hashi. “There’s really not any other coffee the way we do it. We take what we do very seriously, in the traditional way. If you think about how your grandma does things in the kitchen, that’s the way we do it. We take the time to create the exact flavour we are looking for, the flavour people will really enjoy.”

For Negash, the value for family extends beyond the kitchen and into the community itself. Though they have only been in business locally for a few years, Gebre and Hashi have gained a reputation for going

above and beyond when partnering with local organizations and showing support for community endeavours.

“There’s nothing else like Niverville,” Hashi says. “We started our family here. It’s a beautiful town. There’s no way to describe it, really. It means so much to us as a family. Niverville people are beautiful people. Very kind! We’ve grown up with this town and we are always going to be here to support other people here. Life is a two-way street and others have really helped us. What we get, we will also give to help them. So yes, it’s a family. It’s a team.”

Hashi adds that they’ve been thinking for a long time about how to create a product that gives back to the town. They love the fact that the name Niverville is now attached to a specific blend of coffee.

The partnership may have come about naturally, but Dowse confesses that he started out in life with a natural dislike for coffee. It took until he was in his 40s, when

Negash opened, before he started to come around.

Ever since, he has been drinking their coffee.

“I wanted to support Negash when they opened up their new business, so I would come by for tea,” says Dowse. “One day I had ordered a London Fog, and Henok told me it was a London Smog. When asking what that was, he said it’s a standard London Fog with a shot of espresso in it. At first I thought it was odd. But after a few weeks of drinking the London Smog, I eventually ditched the tea and have been a coffee drinker ever since!”

So Dowse is now a true fan of coffee. But are the owners of Negash truly hockey fans?

“That is a trick question for Africans,” says Gebre. “We grew up playing soccer. Even at this moment, we are in the World Cup for soccer. But no doubt, we enjoy watching any type of sport! When it comes to sport, we play it, like basketball or volleyball. The only thing we didn’t

play growing up was hockey, of course. But it is certainly an exciting sport! We like to watch.”

Hashi says that hockey is really fun and unique… and it’s certainly something he and his family didn’t grow up with back home.

“When we came to Canada, we noticed that it is the number one sport here,” says Hashi. “You become who surrounds you, so since we are living in Canada we decided to adopt it. It’s a very special sport to immigrants and we love watching it. We love seeing people enjoying the game and we can feel like we’re part of the community crowd, which is the backbone of the society of sports in this country.”

Nighthawks coffee is available to be purchased through the Negash Coffee website as well as in-store. It can be bought at all Nighthawks home games and at Your Grocery People in Niverville. It comes in a standard 500-gram bag of Organic Ethiopian Grade 1 Coffee and a 1,000-gram bag.

COMMERCIAL, AGRICULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL CONCRETE SUPPLY

BORN | MAR. 20, 2003

AGE | 20

HEIGHT | 5’ 9”

WEIGHT | 177 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | MOOSOMIN, SK

Kyle Bochek was born in Regina, Saskatchewan but grew up in Moosomin, a small town near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border.

He started playing quite early, getting into the game when he was just four years old.

“A couple of my favourite hockey moments would be winning the Telus

MERIK BOLES 55

BORN | JAN. 20, 2005

Cup and back-to-back provincial titles in midget hockey,” says Bochek of his most memorable recollections. “Playing in the WHL for a couple years was cool too.”

Bochek will be coming to the Nighthawks with a wealth of experience, as he has spent the past few seasons playing in the Western

Hocket League with the likes of the Vancouver Giants.

Last year he distinguished himself, scoring four points in 48 games as a shutdown forward.

“I’m really excited to be part of the Nighthawks this year. I can’t wait to get started.”

AGE | 17

HEIGHT | 5’ 10”

WEIGHT | 160 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | LORETTE, MB

Merik Boles was born and raised nearby in the town of Lorette.

He started skating when he was just two years old and then began playing the game of hockey at the age of four.

An original Nighthawks forward, Boles made his mark on the club last

NATHAN BROWN 18

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | FEB. 27, 2006

AGE | 17

HEIGHT | 5’ 11”

WEIGHT | 165 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | LEFT HOMETOWN | WINNIPEG, MB

Nathan Brown was born in Regina, Saskatchewan but raised in Winnipeg. His dad got him into hockey after his older brother started playing.

“My dad played hockey for his whole life,” says Brown. “He then started coaching and kind of became

season, scoring seven points in 45 games.

Boles’s favourite hockey memories to date would have to include playing in the Brick Tournament, getting his first MJHL goal, and making the playoffs with the Nighthawks in their first year as a franchise.

PLAYER PROFILE AUTOGRAPH

“I am a local Eastman player, so I was honoured to play for the Nighthawks in their inaugural season,” says Boles of the town he has helped represent. “Niverville is a great community, and I can’t wait to see what happens in season two.”

my own hockey coach when I was growing up.”

A signed college recruit of the St. Cloud State Huskies, Brown represented Team Manitoba at the WHL Cup in 2021 and has spent the past two seasons playing U18 hockey for the Winnipeg Bruins.

“I’m super excited to join the Nighthawks this year after being around a bit last year,” he says. “Seeing the culture and just the way everything is done with a purpose here is nice to see and finally be a part of. Niverville being close to home is also a nice touch.”

BORN | JAN. 20, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 6’ 0”

WEIGHT | 187 LBS

POSITION | DEFENCE

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | OAKBANK, MB

KAYCEE COYLE 2

Kaycee Coyle was born in Winnipeg and raised in nearby Oakbank.

Like so many of his teammates, he got into hockey early, with his parents teaching him how to skate when he was old enough to walk.

“My favourite hockey memory to date is winning the provincial Ban-

MICHAEL DEBRITO 17

BORN | SEP. 17, 2003

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 10”

WEIGHT | 175 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | FERGUS FALLS, MN

Michael Debrito hails from Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

His dad got him into hockey when he was about four years old. Although he hated it at first, Debrito soon grew to love the sport.

“My favourite hockey memory is winning the conference champion-

KEEGAN GORDON 1

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | NOV. 25, 2004

AGE | 18

HEIGHT | 5’ 10”

WEIGHT | 165 LBS

POSITION | GOALIE

SHOOTS | LEFT HOMETOWN | WINNIPEG, MB

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.”

tam AAA championship and getting a ring,” says Coyle.

After growing up in the Eastman Selects AAA system, Coyle spent last season playing in the SJHL with the La Ronge Ice Wolves. He scored 18 points in 32 games with La Ronge.

“Joining the Nighthawks was good for me to be closer to home, and also a new team to play with,” he says. “I know the Nighthawks did well last year and are trying to win it this year. The coaching staff is awesome. I can’t wait to get the season going.”

ship with my high school team during my junior year,” says Debrito.

Last season, he got in some NAHL games with the Kenai River Brown Bears before coming to Niverville this year.

“I’m super excited to get going, as I’ve heard nothing but good things

from guys who played here last season,” he says, noting the team’s great reputation. “Joining the Nighthawks organization was important to me because I truly believe that the coaching staff can help me take my game to the next level.”

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.”

BORN |

MATTHEW HEALEY 15

Matt Healey was born and raised in Warman, Saskatchewan.

“My dad put me on skates when I was three years old,” he recalls. “I never ended up taking them off!”

Healey’s favourite hockey mem-

British Columbia for the playoffs last season.

After playing with the Edge School U18 prep team, he is excited about getting down to Niverville and having his first Junior A hockey

ory is bussing down to Penticton, experience.

MIGHTON JOHNSON 37

Mighton Johnson was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He got into hockey because of his great-grandfather, who also played the sport.

Johnson’s favourite memory from his hockey years was playing in the Quebec Peewee International Tournament.

ETHAN KELLY 9

Ethan Kelly was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan and raised on a farm nearby.

“Growing up, hockey was the main sport everyone played,” Kelly remembers.

Kelly joined the Nighthawks last season and was a stalwart presence

Johnson spent last season split between the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins and the CCHL’s Renfrew Wolves. He combined for four points in 42 games.

After getting good reviews from his older brother Desmond, who was a member of the inaugural Nighthawks squad, Johnson is excited

“Joining the Nighthawks organization is exciting to me because of how well they treat all the players,” Healey says. “I’m super pumped to get the season started and to bond with the team.”

on the team’s blueline throughout the team’s inaugural campaign.

He scored 12 points in 50 games for the Nighthawks over the course of the 2022–23 season.

“I am looking forward to another good year at Niverville and can’t wait to get started,” he says.

to get to Niverville and play for the team himself.

“Joining the Nighthawks is an opportunity for me because my brother enjoyed his time here,” says Johnson. “I’m just excited to get going. They had a good first year and we will look to continue the team’s success this year as well.”

His best memory? That would be the home opener.

“It was awesome to see the fan support that Niverville brings to the games,” he recollects. “And it was cool to play in front of the sold-out crowd!”

BORN | MAR. 12, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 9”

Ty Kennett was born in Crookston, Minnesota but later in life he grew up and was raised in the nearby town of Red Lake Falls.

he stayed all the way up until his graduation from high school.

Kennett’s best hockey memory was making the Minnesota state tournament in Peewee.

WEIGHT | 170 LBS SHOOTS | LEFT

Kennett’s dad got him into hockey when he was really little.

He was an original member of the

“The coaching staff really welcomed me and really seemed to care about my hockey future,” says Kennett of his first year in Niverville. “I am very excited to get things started again, as it should be a fun

POSITION | FORWARD

He then went on to play for the local team in Red Lake Falls, where Nighthawks and scored 28 points in 51 games last season. year!”

Tyler Kuldt was born and raised in Alexandria, Minnesota, where he has lived all his life. It’s also, of course, where he learned to play hockey.

“I basically had skates thrown on my feet as soon as I could walk,”

says Kuldt. “I chose to be a forward because I like to get points and make plays.”

Kuldt’s favourite hockey memory from his career to date is having the opportunity to play in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament as a member of the Alexandria Area High School team.

Kuldt is also thrilled to be joining the Nighthawks for the 2023–24 season. person.” AUTOGRAPH

“I really wanted to continue my hockey career, and Niverville seemed like the best option for me,” he says. “I really liked what I have heard and seen from their inaugural season and can’t wait to be a part of a team like this, and develop as a player and a

AVERY LALIBERTE 8

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | SEP. 18, 2006

AGE | 17

HEIGHT | 6’ 2”

WEIGHT | 175 LBS

POSITION | DEFENCE

SHOOTS | LEFT

HOMETOWN | LORETTE, MB

Avery Laliberte is a Manitoban through and through, being born and raised in Lorette.

He was two years old when he first tried on a pair of skates.

“I got into hockey by watching Philadelphia Flyers games as a kid with my dad, and my dad skating

with me on our backyard outdoor rink,” says Laliberte.

His biggest career highlight was being the thirteenth seed in last year’s playoffs with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 squad. They were down 4–1 against the number two seed and rallied back to win.

Laliberte was the first-ever draft pick for the Nighthawks when the club selected him with their firstround pick in the 2022 draft.

“I am pumped to get the ball rolling and play in front of all the Nighthawks fans,” he says.

BORN | SEP. 16, 2006

AGE | 17

HEIGHT | 6’ 0”

WEIGHT | 175 LBS

POSITION | GOALIE

SHOOTS | LEFT

HOMETOWN | MORDEN, MB

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.

CALEB LEPITRE 25

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | MAY 2, 2005

AGE | 18

HEIGHT | 6’ 1”

WEIGHT | 183 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

Caleb Lepitre was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta.

“My dad would play ministicks with me in the hallway of our house basically from when I started walking,” says Lepitre. “I skated on

the outdoor rink at two years old and never wanted to get off.”

Before joining the Nighthawks, Lepitre played in the historic Brick Tournament.

He also competed in the CSSHL playoffs in Penticton.

Lepitre is excited at the prospect

of furthering his career in the MJHL with the Nighthawks.

“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.”

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | FEB. 24, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 11”

WEIGHT | 188 LBS

POSITION | DEFENCE

SHOOTS | LEFT

HOMETOWN | EDMONTON, AB

“The Nighthawks really saw my potential and wanted to help me be the best player that I can be,” he says. “I am excited to see what our team will bring to the table this season after seeing all the great talent we got to offer.”

AUTOGRAPH ERIC MARTIN 12

Eric Martin was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta and comes from a long line of hockey players.

There wasn’t really a question of what sport Martin would choose to pursue.

“I have lots of good memories, but one that sticks with me is my dad

making a backyard rink for me when I was younger and spending a lot of time on it with my buddies,” says Martin.

Martin was an original Nighthawks player and scored 18 points in 49 games as he patrolled the team’s blueline during the 2022–23 season.

“The Nighthawks organization gave me the chance to play junior hockey,” he says, looking back at last year’s campaign. “After the year we had, making the playoffs, it’s got me really excited to get things rolling again.”

Luke McCrady was born in Calgary, Alberta. He loved skating on the lake in winter or hitting the outdoor rink.

“My dad played at a high level, and we watched a lot of hockey when I was young,” says McCrady. “I have loved it ever since!”

McCrady played on the first CSSHL team to win the Macs Tournament and won the CSSHL championship last year.

Joining the Nighthawks organization is a dream come true for this defenceman.

“The management, coaching, and support staff have been absolutely great to deal with,” he says. “I really like the direction and the opportunities to take it to the next level. I’m super excited to get things going.”

Charlie Robinson was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He first put on a pair of skates at the age of three. He never looked back.

“My favourite hockey memories would be going to all the tourna-

and going to the state championship both years when I was at prep school,” Robinson says.

The 19-year-old defenceman spent last season playing in the NAHL with the Northeast Generals,

ments when I was in minor hockey, scoring one point in 20 games.

“Coach Kelvin gave me a great opportunity to come up here and make an impact, but he challenged me to always be hungry for more,” he says. “Of course that is exciting! I’ll be ready to come in and make an impact off the jump.”

20

BORN | MAY 8, 2003 HEIGHT | 6’ PLAYER PROFILE

1”

Luke Schaeffer was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and raised on a farm 45 minutes east.

“I started skating when I was three and then started hockey when I was five,” says Schaeffer.

Schaeffer is proud to have been an original member of the team.

“It was an awesome experience being at the first home game ever in franchise history,” he says about last year’s opening tilt. “The atmosphere was amazing with the rink packed with our fans.”

Working as a sturdy defenceman, Schaeffer had 11 points in 47 games

with the Nighthawks in year one. He is pumped to be back.

BORN | JUL. 27, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 9”

WEIGHT | 170 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | ST. ALBERT, AB

CARTER SPIRIG 22

Carter Spirig was born in Peace River, Alberta but moved to Fort McMurray when he was four.

He also started playing competitive hockey there.

“As soon as I figured out how to get up on my own, my mom and dad gave me a stick,” Spirig says. “My

older brother played hockey, and I wanted to do the same.”

An original member of the Nighthawks, Spirig loved playing in the inaugural Nighthawks home game in front of a sold-out rink.

“Last season when I got the opportunity to come to Niverville

MICHAEL TANCHAK 71

BORN | AUG. 23, 2003

and have the opportunity to play in the first season in franchise history, I was super excited,” he remembers. “We had an early exit in the first round of playoffs last year, so I know the players this year are ready to make our mark.”

AGE | 20

HEIGHT | 5’ 10”

WEIGHT | 175 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | LEFT

Michael Tanchak was born and raised in Winnipeg, where he started playing hockey at a young age with the help of his father.

“I grew up on a lake, so my dad would make me a rink and we would

WYATT TARON 7

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | JUN. 23, 2005

AGE | 18

HEIGHT | 6’ 1”

WEIGHT | 175 LBS

POSITION | DEFENCE

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | MILL BAY, BC

Wyatt Taron was born and raised in Mill Bay, British Columbia. He started playing hockey because his older brother played, but he quickly fell in love with the sport himself.

Winning the Challenge Cup marks the greatest and most memorable

His favourite hockey memories include signing with the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues for his Grade 12 year and winning a high school provincial championship with St. Paul’s High School in Grade 10.

PLAYER PROFILE go out and play all of the time,” says Tanchak. After scoring 35 points in 54 games with the Winnipeg Blues last fanbase.”

season, Tanchak is excited at the prospect of joining the Nighthawks organization.

“Joining the Nighthawks is exciting to me because it seems like a great place to play with an awesome

AUTOGRAPH

moment so far in Taron’s young hockey career.

Prior to joining the Nighthawks, Taron spent the past two seasons with the Shawinigan Lake School U18 prep team. Last year, he scored seven points in 30 games.

“Joining the Nighthawks is exciting to me because of the environment and culture the team has,” Taron says. “I’m super excited to start my junior career with the Nighthawks.”

BORN | APR. 13, 2003

AGE | 20

HEIGHT | 6’ 2”

WEIGHT | 206 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | LEFT

HOMETOWN | ARGYLE, MB

Brett Tataryn was born in Selkirk and raised in nearby Argyle.

“I got into hockey from my dad teaching me to skate when I was three and watching his hockey games,” says Tataryn of his earliest memories. “I fell in love with the game from that point on.”

Tataryn also fondly recalls winning the CSSHL championship with Pilot Mound Hockey Academy.

Last season, Tataryn served as the first team captain in the history of the Niverville Nighthawks. In 47 games last year, Tataryn scored 19 goals and made 16 assists.

BRYCE WARKENTINE 77

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | JUN. 24, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 11”

WEIGHT | 187 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | LEFT

Bryce Warkentine was born and raised on a dairy farm close to Landmark.

He got into hockey pretty early on—from the time he could start walking, in fact.

“My dad figured hockey was a good sport because he had more

time in the winter as a farmer to take me to practice,” says Warkentine. Warkentine’s favourite hockey memory was being traded to the Nighthawks. Last season, he scored 14 points in 33 games.

“Being part of the Nighthawks organization is important to me because it is so close to home compared to other teams,” he says. “I get to see my family more often than usual. I’m very excited to get things rolling this year.”

integrity,” he says of the team’s culture. “They were willing to give me a chance, and they continue to do so. The coaches have empowered and equipped me to play at this level. I’m excited to see what this year will

“Niverville is such a great organization with good ethics and bring!” AUTOGRAPH

BEN WHITFORD 70

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | JUN. 10, 2004

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 6’ 4”

WEIGHT | 210 LBS

POSITION | FORWARD

SHOOTS | RIGHT

HOMETOWN | CALGARY, AB

Ben Whitford was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where his dad got him into hockey as a young kid.

Whitford is quick to name his favourite hockey memory to date. That would be last season’s home opener,

as he has the privilege of being an original member of the Nighthawks.

Last season with the team, Whitford scored 15 points in 51 games, working hard as a strong two-way forward.

“I’m excited to be back and happy to see all the guys around the rink again,” says Whitford. “I know we’re all ready to build off last season and excited to get going.”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CLARENCE BRAUN PRESIDENT

LEAGUE GOVERNOR CHAIR OF THE BOD PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS OWNERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS

Clarence Braun has always lived in Niverville. He started playing hockey in 1965 on the outdoor rink where the Niverville Community Fellowship Church is located now, then graduated to minor hockey at the Niverville Centennial Arena when it opened in 1967. He also played for the Junior Northstars and Senior Clippers.

In addition, he played junior in Steinbach and tried out for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1971 and the St. Boniface Saints in 1975.

As a lifelong fan, his favourite memory was watching the Winnipeg Jets beat the vaunted Red Army team from Russia in the Winnipeg Arena.

Braun started the Chicken Chef in Niverville in 1980 and sold it in 1986. He was also involved in leadership at Maranatha Church in Niverville from 1987 to 1994. He was key to developing the 72-lot subdivision called South Park Estates with some other investors in the mid-1980s.

In 1994, he opened Clare’s Family Restaurant (where Subway is found today) and operated it until 2001.

Braun was elected mayor of Niverville in 1995 and served through 2002.

He was president of the Niverville Chamber of Commerce for two terms. He then received his real estate license in 2003 and has been

RAYMOND DOWSE VICE PRESIDENT

Ray Dowse was born in Winnipeg and moved just outside Niverville when he was ten years old.

He started his young hockey career at four years old and played for Glenwood, Oxford Heights, and the East End Wings in Transcona.

When he moved to Niverville, he played minor hockey.

Dowse was eventually drafted by the Selkirk Steelers but didn’t make the team that first year.

After winning the HTJHL championship with the Niverville Clippers, he stopped playing competitively to focus on school and his career. He has been a minor hockey coach in Niverville.

“My favourite moments in the game have been as a coach, and

just watching a team of young kids develop their skills. I like to see their personalities come together and gel, as the players recognize how they contribute to the team’s success.”

Dowse and his leadership were big factors in bringing the Nighthawks to Niverville.

“I have really appreciated the opportunity to be part of creating something that will make a positive impact at so many levels. Canada continues to be a nation where the game of hockey is intertwined with our identity. To look across a map of the country, many towns are recognized by their respective junior teams. The Nighthawks will contribute to the identity of this community, proudly representing our region on a

FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

involved in The Highlands development since its inception in 2004.

“When I left council after two terms, our population was around 2,200 and we were starting to see the growth. In 2007, I had my first meeting with the commissioner of the MJHL, Kim Davis. Subsequently I brought my son-in-law Ray Dowse and my nephew Jeremy Braun into meetings in the following years. This all culminated with the announcement of a new recreational facility back in 2016. From 2016 to 2021, we began to add a few more people to our group and after many meetings we were able to secure a MJHL franchise in June of 2021.”

provincial stage, and hopefully someday at the national tournament.”

Dowse’s background includes 25 years in the insurance industry. He is currently a business development manager for HUB International.

An entrepreneur at heart, he has invested significant time focusing on the growth and development of the business sector in Niverville, including in commercial projects on Main Street and the west side of town. He is also involved with The Citizen, Main Street Storage, and the new hotel that is being planned.

Fifteen years ago, Dowse was part of the original group that first made contact with the MJHL about the prospect of Niverville hosting a team.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS CHAIR GROWTH & BRANDING INITIATIVES

RISK & INSURANCE MARKETING

MEDIA RELATIONS FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

JEREMY BRAUN TREASURER

FINANCE & ACCOUNTING CHAIR

LEGAL AFFAIRS

Jeremy Braun was born in Winnipeg, lived in Niverville until he was two, moved to Winnipeg again, and then moved back to Niverville when he was 23 for a bit. Afterward he built a home in Winnipeg… but then he moved back to Niverville.

Are you keeping up?

“I grew up playing road hockey in the streets of Fort Garry in Winnipeg almost every day after school. It was a vibrant young community, and we would often have 12 to 15 kids playing every day. I also went to the local outdoor arena on the weekends,

LIQUOR AND LOTTERIES MUNICIPAL RELATIONS

strapped the skates on in the cold, and played pick-up hockey there.”

Braun owned a book/gift distribution company in Winnipeg for almost 20 years and sold it in 2016. He’s also had a real estate development company that he started with his dad and brother.

“This has been a journey that I joined Clarence Braun and Ray Dowse to work on three and half years ago. I’ve been part of this community for the past 18 years. My kids have grown up here, and I’ve coached sports here. I love Niverville

HUMAN RESOURCES MARKETING

and am grateful for the people and opportunities it has afforded our family. We have great friends here, and we’re now seeing our kids have opportunities to create futures here as well. The chance to work with a dynamic group of local business owners to create a community team is the way to go. It’s been amazing to see our community pull together to create and support the Nighthawks. It’s been a ton of work, but I’m super excited to see our team hit the ice for their second season and build on some great rivalries in the league.”

Dylan Wiens was born and raised in Niverville and has lived in town for his entire life.

Wiens has been playing hockey since he was four. He played minor hockey here until he was 18 and then proceeded to play in the HTJHL.

Wiens has continued to play hockey in the local Good Time Hockey League in Niverville and plans to play as long as possible.

Wiens is a third-generation owner of Wiens Furniture, a family

business. He’s been working there since he was 14, folding flyers for mailers. He graduated to working in the warehouse and on the delivery truck and sales. Now he co-owns the business with his father and manages the day-to-day operations.

“The opportunity to help bring the Nighthawks to Niverville was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. This community keeps growing, and to have a chance to bring our town together for a common cause

seemed like a no-brainer to me. Niverville is a young town and to see my kids and their friends be able to experience MJHL hockey is something I look forward to. I truly believe that this is about more than just hockey, as it brings more visibility to our town as we strive to become national champions. Not only that, but it shows everyone involved in the team that Niverville is a fantastic place to play and to live. I am super pumped for another season.”

Bryan Trottier was born in Winnipeg and proceeded to spend the first 11 years of his life in Dominion City before moving to Niverville around the age of 12. He has been in town ever since.

Trottier played minor hockey in Niverville, Junior C in Niverville, and senior in Niverville until he was 35 years old. His favourite hockey mem-

ory was either when the Winnipeg Jets came home or when his team won the CSHL championship.

“I am proud to be part of the Nighthawks organization. It has been a big undertaking, but after seeing it come to fruition and seeing the community get excited about it, it feels like all the hard work to build the team is worth it.”

He adds that he’s always made it a point to support fun activities for kids in town, especially through volunteerism.

“I think the benefits for the kids with the Nighthawks coming to town are immense. I’ve seen lots of young smiles at the arena, as I remember how we used to look up to the senior Clippers as kids.”

DYLAN WIENS SECRETARY

MARKETING & SPONSORSHIP CHAIR SOCIAL MEDIA

REGIONAL YOUTH SPORTS LIAISON WEBSITE

BRYAN TROTTIER DIRECTOR

VOLUNTEER CHAIR COMMUNITY RELATIONS GAME DAY INFRASTRUCTURE

SPECIAL PROJECTS

KEVIN LANSARD DIRECTOR

HOCKEY OPERATIONS CHAIR TEAM BUDGETING

Kevin Lansard was born and raised in the RM of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, where he still resides with his wife and two children.

Shortly after graduating from high school, he started a company called Lansard Computers. He custom-built computers, performed repairs, and offered network services. He then worked on connecting Ste. Anne residents to the internet, as well as those in surrounding communities.

PLAYER EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS HOCKEY TV AND PRODUCTION FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

Not long after this, he purchased Lansard Bros Roofing Ltd., a company founded by his father Leo-Paul and Uncle Roger in 1978.

Lansard has since been the president and CEO of the Winnipeg-based company.

He has always been involved in hockey. He played minor hockey in Ste. Anne as well as senior hockey. He has now been running the Senior Aces team for many years. Lansard

SCOTT WALLACE DIRECTOR

INFRASTRUCTURE CHAIR E-FILING AND PROCESS

Scott Wallace was born in Winnipeg and later grew up in nearby Île-desChênes.

He moved to Niverville in 1999, but grew up playing minor hockey in Île-des-Chênes, usually beating Niverville in the playoffs.

“I was a goalie and played until I was 35. My favourite memories, besides winning, were developing the lifelong friendships with those I played with—and also against.”

CARL FAST DIRECTOR

BILLETING CHAIR

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Carl Fast has lived in Niverville his entire life. He has played hockey since he was four and still puts on the skates occasionally at 57 to play in the Good Time Hockey League. He thinks he’s probably the oldest player in the league.

“I’ve played in our community hockey program from Atom and finishing in the HTHL and grew up as a rink rat shovelling snow between periods during HTHL games—no Zambonis back then—so I could watch the games for free. All my

has been head coach since 2016, and with the help of others the senior team has won four league championships and two provincial championships.

“The opportunity to bring Junior A to the community of Niverville is very exciting for everyone. I’m just very fortunate to meet new people and create new friendships along the way and thankful for everyone involved.”

HEALTH & SAFETY FARM & AGRICULTURE LIAISON

Wallace is a senior superintendent with PCL Construction and has also invested in numerous Niverville properties.

He’s on the Niverville Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was on the Clipper Ice Sports board for eight years.

“It was important for the community to be involved. The thought of having a community-owned team is what really got my attention. The

fact that the younger generation now has mature hockey players to help in their development is also exciting. In my mind, this investment was never about the monetary return but rather about seeing the results in our own community. At some point, when you become ingrained in a community, you need to give back to it. This is one way which I believe is essential in creating a great synergistic community.”

COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONSULTANT TO THE BOARD

memories in the hockey world are great, but going to one last Jets game with my dad before he left this world was the best memory. The smile on his face was priceless.”

Fast and his wife are proud to be owners of a third-generation family business, Wm. Dyck and Sons, that was started by his grandfather and will move into the fourth generation under his son Ryan’s leadership in the future.

“Although I was not involved in any of the hard legwork that

brought this team to our community like some of the other key board members, I have appreciated the opportunity to become involved as one of the community owners and also serve on the board. Bringing Junior A hockey to Niverville has been exciting for those who enjoy watching young athletes show their skills and play a great game, especially in our new arena. It provides some very affordable entertainment in our community that everyone can enjoy. Let’s go, Nighthawks!”

TOM KLEYSON DIRECTOR

ALTERNATE GOVERNOR ALUMNI AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Tom Kleysen was born in Winnipeg. His grandfather, Harry, founded Kleysen Transport Ltd. in 1935. Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit and involvement with the family business began at a young age.

In order to ensure that his knowledge of the industry was diversified, he spent more than three decades working in every aspect of the organization, from mechanic to eventually president and chief operating officer.

Kleysen is a former director of the Winnipeg Blues hockey team and governor for the MJHL. He was also

LEAGUE RELATIONS CONSULTANT TO THE BOARD

with the Fort Garry North Hockey Association (FGNHA) as a coach, team manager, and board member; served on the Twins AA Hockey board of directors; and was coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Falcons AAA Female Hockey program from 2011–2013.

Mindful of giving back to the community during his time with the Blues and the MJHL, Kleyson formed strong views of what a Junior A hockey team should encompass.

“Firstly, the MJHL must be focused on keeping our good players

playing in Manitoba—reducing expenses for players, increasing revenue for the team, and staying closer to home for further personal development, all while ensuring that Manitoba players, playing in Manitoba, get the opportunity to advance their careers. While only very few players will make a career in the hockey world, the players, through their Junior A experience, learn their discipline of hard work, sacrifice, teamwork, and leadership, enabling them to be successful contributors to our society.”

Will Cuccaro was born and raised in Winnipeg. He’s been a hockey coach in Winnipeg and Las Vegas for the past 17 years, coaching all ages from nine to 20.

Wanting to get involved with the Nighthawks, Cuccaro decided to volunteer his services for the team’s inaugural season. Going into year

two, he now sits on multiple committees and has been impressed with the way the operation is run.

He says that the team wants to be a high-quality organization from the ground up.

“Joining the Nighthawks was important to me for a few reasons. The first being to support a high-quality

DUSTIN KRAHN DIRECTOR

MERCHANDISE CHAIR EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

Dustin Krahn was born and raised in Niverville. His background in hockey was that of a typical kid—he played minor hockey until the age of about 14, but nothing beyond that.

Krahn is the owner of Excel Graphics in Niverville and co-owner of The Citizen. He is very excited to join the Nighthawks organization as its latest board member.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to be involved in the organization. I am already involved with multiple other organizations

ADVERTISING

in Niverville, and I know that these types of things take a heck of a lot of work from a lot of different people. I really enjoy being a part of the community and pitching in wherever I can.”

Krahn notes that the Nighthawks are a huge contributor to the local economy, so it’s important that residents of the area support the team in any way they can.

“The excitement and energy that the Nighthawks bring to the community is hard to beat, particularly

hockey product in our local community. And secondly, to continue my own growth in the off-ice world of hockey. It was so very exciting to see the passion of our fans and the players during the inaugural Nighthawks season. We hope to continue that drive this year and for many years to come.”

for little kids. It reminds me of being a kid and going to senior Clipper games in the old Niverville Arena and thinking that all these local guys were hockey superstars. At that age, I saw no difference between the NHL and the Hanover Senior League. They were all legends. Sometimes it’s hard to remember and reconnect with those feelings you had as a kid, but watching the Nighthawks and seeing how the kids love it so much is a constant reminder of that! It is really great to see.”

& VISUAL MARKETING

WILL CUCCARO DIRECTOR

GAME DAY CHAIR IT TICKETING SYSTEMS & WORKFLOWS

FOOD & BEVERAGE HOCKEY TV & PRODUCTION

COACHING STAFF

KELVIN CECH HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

Kelvin Cech was born and raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He played hockey there and Strathcona County as a kid and moved into coaching after college when someone told him he was a better coach than a player.

After serving as a head coach and assistant coach for some U15 and U18 teams in the Vancouver area, Cech went on to become an assistant coach of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds for three seasons. He later came to Manitoba and was named the head

coach of the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers for the 2019–20 season.

“It was awesome to come in and learn the league here. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I wasn’t able to fully finish a season. But it was phenomenal to get around and meet the different personalities in the MJHL. I love this league, and I love how each team competes hard every single night. It truly is a league where anyone can beat anyone.”

For his year in Winkler, he was named Coach of the Year.

Returning to the Nighthawks for a second year as head coach and general manager, Cech has again assembled a group of young men who want to compete every night.

“Our team is built on character and competitiveness. This is how we’ve gone about the recruiting process. We have looked for those men who have good character, who will be good teammates on and off the ice. It’s important to me because I believe we can search for success in a non-traditional way.”

MIKE MCAULAY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING

Mike McAulay was born in Winnipeg and now lives in La Salle. He counts his minor hockey days as some of his most cherished, particularly a provincial championship in Stonewall, three Zone Four championships in Carman, and a silver medal in the Western Canadian Championships with the St. Malo Warriors.

His playing career wrapped up at the University of MinnesotaCrookston, where he considers his career to have come full circle after winning an MCHA championship.

With his scouting team, McAulay was successful in recruiting players

to the MJHL who have gone on to make impressive contributions.

“I spent three seasons with the Winkler Flyers as their assistant general manager and head scout working alongside a good friend and mentor, Jeff Jeanson, who gave me my start in administration and scouting at the Junior A level. In Winkler, I also had the chance to work with Coach Cech, so the transition to the Nighthawks was relatively seamless. It’s a privilege to be a part of something this special.”

McAulay knows just how important it is to express gratitude to

BEN MICFLIKIER ASSISTANT COACH

Ben Micflikier was born and raised in Winnipeg. He played AAA hockey for the Monarchs and Wild, for St. Paul’s High School, and then for two years of junior hockey, mainly with the Winkler Flyers.

Mcflikier was the defensive assistant coach for St Paul’s and helped

them win both city and provincial championships in 2018.

Last season, he was the offensive assistant coach for the St. Boniface Riels of the MMJHL, who made their first playoff appearance since 2018.

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the

the team off the ice responsible for making Junior A hockey in Niverville a reality.

“It all starts with Clarence Braun, the board of directors, and their adoration for the community of Niverville as well as their big picture vision. It became apparent early in the process that they were committed to building a successful MJHL program in Niverville and I’m proud and honoured to be a part of it. We’re surrounded with outstanding people in all facets of the organization who share that vision and have worked tirelessly to bring it all together.”

Niverville Nighthawks and continue building a successful team culture of accountability and support. Leading up my hiring, I heard so many great things about the players, staff, volunteers, community, and organization in general. I really can’t wait to get to work!”

TYLER ANDERSON ASSISTANT COACH

Tyler Anderson was born and raised in Niverville. The chance to contribute to the new team and his community is one he’s not taking for granted.

Anderson played for the Eastman Selects when he was growing up and now he gets the opportunity to help usher in the next wave of young players moving into their junior hockey years.

“I’m looking forward to grow the player development side of the game, especially in young defencemen.”

A defenceman himself, Anderson graduated from the Eastman program and moved on to Junior A with stops in the SJHL with the Kindersley Klippers and the BCHL with the Prince George Spruce Kings and West Kelowna Warriors, a team with which he won a national championship.

Following junior hockey, Anderson attended a Washington Capitals development camp before embarking on a Division 1 college career with the Superior State Lakers, a team that won the GLI Cup.

JUSTIN GIESBRECHT PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Justin Giesbrecht is a hometown boy, born and raised right here in Niverville.

He grew up playing for the Eastman Selects and then played four solid years of Junior A hockey in the MJHL, for both the Winkler Flyers and Swan Valley Stampeders, as well as in the SJHL for the Yorkton Terriers.

Giesbrecht played two years at Briercrest College in the ACAC and

then some semi-professional hockey in the SPHL (Mississippi) and FHL (Connecticut and New York).

“On my return home, I then began my time coaching in the Niverville/ Eastman area, coaching the U18 Eastman Selects, and most recently with the U15 Female Eastman Selects team.”

Giesbrecht is excited to go into his second year as the Nighthawks’ physiotherapist.

MITCH DAVID EQUIPMENT MANAGER

Mitch David grew up in the rural southeast, calling Île-des-Chênes home. That’s also where he played minor hockey.

With a growing passion for the game, David went on to play three years of AAA through the U17 and U18 Eastman Selects programs. He attended two WHL camps with the Prince Albert Raiders and Everett Silvertips.

David also completed one and a half seasons with the Charleswood Hawks in the MMJHL, capturing back-to-back championships

“It is awesome to finally have a team here in Niverville. As a local, it’s something I wish we would have had back in my junior days. I think it brings the community together and is a fun night out on the town for local families. It’s especially important for the younger kids to see this quality of hockey and look up to it. Billet families have a player move in, who then turns into an older brother for the young kids living in the house, and then they have a friend for life. This team helps to put Niverville on the map.”

“To me it’s so important to give back to the community that raised me as a young hockey player. I’m excited that Niverville has had this opportunity to become a Junior A hockey community and put us on the map as a hockey town. I also get the chance to share some of my knowledge, skills, and experiences as a former professional hockey player as well as help with my skills in the medical field as a physiotherapist.”

with a 24–0 playoff record. In his final season of junior hockey, the 2010–11season, he was a playoff MVP, not to mention the Goaltender of the Year.

With his playing career firmly in the rearview mirror, David then looked to shift his sights from athlete to equipment manager, first for the Manitoba Bisons in the CIS (2011–2013).

“This was a great opportunity to grow skills from a different position in hockey and travel Western Canada. Something I will always

remember was that we managed to finish at the top of the CIS in my first season.”

This will be David’s second season with the Nighthawks and fourth overall as an equipment manager. He has been a permanent resident of Niverville for the past five years with his wife Michelle and three children.

“Great players will come and go, but how will they remember their time here in Niverville? That is the part I will look to fill day in and day out.”

TYLER OSWALD GOALTENDING COACH

Tyler Oswald was born and raised in Sanford. He grew up playing minor hockey in the MacDonald hockey system. He played U18AAA as a goaltender for the Pembina Valley Hawks before playing junior hockey with the Winkler Flyers.

His favourite hockey memory was winning the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey Championship with Pembina Valley.

Oswald has been coaching ever since he stopped playing around ten years ago.

ROB PAMBRUN

He then coached for GDI in Winnipeg for four years before moving to Calgary where he pursued a degree in Sports and Recreation Management.

“While in Calgary, I worked for GDI as well as being an assistant/ goalie coach for the Calgary Northstars U18AAA team for three years. After completing my schooling, I moved back to Winnipeg to rejoin RINK Goalie Development.”

Oswald has been at the RINK for more than three years now and has

been coaching the RHA U18 prep team as the goalie coach.

In addition to this, he has also worked with the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues in 2019–20 as their goalie coach.

“I’m really looking forward to being involved in this second season of the Niverville Nighthawks. Being part of a team in the MJHL is an exciting opportunity for myself. It’s even more of an exciting challenge to be part of continuing to grow a team and culture.”

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE COACH

Rob Pambrun was born and raised in Winnipeg. He played AAA hockey for the Winnipeg Warriors and the U18 Winnipeg Wild.

From there, he moved on to playing junior hockey in the MJHL, dressing for several team.

First came a stint with the Portage Terriers, followed by the Southeast Blades (they are now called the Steinbach Pistons), and finally the Winnipeg Saints (they are now known as the Virden Oil Capitals).

“One of my main goals as a player was to play junior hockey at a young age. When I managed to crack the lineup as a teenager, I was extremely proud, and this was hands-down my favourite moment in hockey.”

Due to an unforeseen knee injury, however, Pambrun’s hockey career was cut short.

Since then, he has become a fitness professional a performance and physique specialist, to be exact and he currently owns a global

JARRETT OSTER SKILLS COACH

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jarrett Oster played his junior hockey career for the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) from 1998 to 2001.

In his rookie season, Oster was awarded Rookie of the Year honours.

Throughout his junior career, he was lucky enough to play in many

championships, including the Royal Bank Cup.

However, an injury during his final season with the Terriers ended his career and brought Oster back home to Winnipeg.

Oster has been part of The RINK team in Winnipeg for nearly 15 years and is Hockey Canada-certified with

fitness consulting corporation named Team Prep Starz.

“The knowledge and skills that I’ve gained in the fitness industry have allowed me to find my way back into the hockey world. The Nighthawks organization values the knowledge and experience that I have brought to the table. As the player development and sports science coach, I continue to look forward to working with all the players and being a member of the community.”

a wealth of coaching experience in skill development and power-skating with players of all ages and capabilities.

Oster says that he is extremely excited at the prospect of getting to work with the Nighthawks’ players this season as the organization’s new skills coach.

CRYSTAL STOTT

Crystal Stott was born and raised in Niverville. She has always loved the game of hockey and has been a fan since she was a kid. She has especially enjoyed watching her daughters play the sport as well throughout the years.

HEAD STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

conditioning coach in the spring of 2022. Her hiring represented an official partnership between the team and ShopGym, the local facility that Stott owns.

Stott’s favourite hockey moment comes from attending the 2005 World Juniors bronze and gold medal games.

The Nighthawks first hired Stott to be the team’s head strength and

DAN PARR SCOUT

Dan Parr grew up playing minor hockey in Winnipeg. He then went on to a junior hockey career in the MJHL and MMJHL, followed by senior hockey in both the Hanover-Tache and South Eastern leagues.

One of his favourite moments was winning the MJHL championship with the Winnipeg South Blues.

“While raising two boys, I started coaching for the MacDonald Hockey

ShopGym has a distinct collegelike atmosphere, which she says is absolutely ideal for Junior A hockey, since most of these players are looking to move on to college hockey in the future.

Stott has owned and operated ShopGym for 12 years and has

trained numerous AA and AAA hockey teams. As a certified functional strength and nutrition coach, she has a special focus on hormone health and nutrition for athletic performance.

“Having been involved with this team from the ground up is a really big honour. I am so excited to be able to contribute to the team’s and individual athletes’ success as we go into our second year. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

Association and taking part in some regional programs such as Rising Stars and Directors Cup.”

Having coached for ten years, Parr has learned much about the game that he never realized as a player. Watching young athletes develop along the way is where he gets the most satisfaction.

This might be why Parr has really enjoyed the transition from coaching to scouting.

KEVIN JEANSON SCOUT

Kevin Jeanson was born in Winnipeg and raised in the St. Claude and Carman area. Jeanson started playing hockey at the ripe old age of two. He says that he still gets out on the ice once in a while.

He played high school hockey in Carman, then AAA Midget in Morden, and finally Junior College/ NCAA Division III down in Crookston, Minnesota.

Additionally, Jeanson has worked at a few hockey schools and coached one year of high school hockey in Carman.

Over the last few years, Jeanson has done some scouting for the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers. He enjoys still being involved in the game.

Jeanson’s favourite hockey-related memory to date involves winning a National College Championship

“I’m very excited to be a part of this organization as we go into the second season. I came to this team with Mike McAulay and the rest of his scouting group, wanting to take on the challenge of building a strong hockey culture and ice a competitive hockey team. I can’t wait for the puck drop and look forward to finding even more good character athletes for Coach Kelvin and the rest of his bench staff.”

and getting to do it on the ice with his own brother.

“With the Nighthawks organization, it was very important to me to give back some time to a game that I love so much. I enjoy helping kids achieve their goals on and off the ice and I’m so excited that the town of Niverville gets to experience this. It’s a great community and I just can’t wait for the new season to start.”

RAY AGOSTINO SCOUT

Ray Agostino was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and has been in Manitoba since 2000. He played minor and junior hockey in Thunder Bay (Junior B and USHL) and then his last year of junior in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers.

Agostino has coached hockey for the last 23 years in various age groups from five to 18 (AAA, AA, A1, high school, Rising Stars). He has

SCOTT OLIVER SCOUT

Scott Oliver was born in London, Ontario and raised in Winnipeg. He graduated from Kelvin High School and then attended college at Moorhead State University.

He played youth hockey at Sir John Franklin and for the River Heights Cardinals Junior team. When he stopped playing the game, he got into coaching. He

JEFF MCAULAY SCOUT

recently completed his HP1 hockey certification.

“Making it to city finals or provincial finals is always a memorable moment in my 20 years coaching high school. And it’s nice to see players you coached make it all the way into the NHL.”

He has also taught physical education at Dakota Collegiate in Winnipeg for 15 years.

Agostino is excited at the prospect of helping the Nighthawks in their second season.

“Staying involved and giving back to the hockey community is very important to me. Getting involved at a higher level, opening doors to more things in the future, and having gotten the chance to be part of something new right from the start is special as well.”

coached high school hockey in Minnesota as well as college hockey at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Among his top accomplishments, Oliver lists winning a state title in 2007 at the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center with Roseau High School.

His son Nick played on the team that year and is currently the head coach for the USHL’s Fargo Force.

“I am working with the Niverville Nighthawks to assist in identifying players for the team from the U.S.A., because I want to give back to my former collegiate players who are now working with the team in the MJHL.”

KEVIN PAULS MARKETING AND GAME DAY DIRECTOR

Kevin Pauls has been involved with the Nighthawks from day one and will add this new role to his existing one as the voice of the Nighthawks. He starts immediately with his new responsibilities, which will be in addition to his role as Hockey TV commentator.

Born in Winnipeg and raised in Morden, Pauls grew up watching hockey and has spent more than 15 years coaching and serving on the PVMHA executive. Since getting

into broadcasting in 2009, Pauls has called games for Manitoba AAA U18, SEMHL, high school hockey, and now the MJHL.

“My kids all played hockey, so I enjoyed being a part of their hockey careers. Spending time with them at the rink is something I will always cherish.”

Pauls thought that the team’s first season was really special from his vantage point. And with a new season coming up, Pauls is more

excited than ever to get the ball rolling again.

“Being able to contribute in the capacity of Marketing and Game Operations as well as my broadcasting duties is such an exciting thing for not only myself but my family. They know this is something I’ve always wanted to do. The first season was indeed special, but there are so many great things to come. We are just getting started. I cannot wait for what’s next.”

MICHAEL SALONIUS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND SPONSORSHIP

Originally hailing from Toronto, Salonius moved to Niverville back in 2014.

Although Salonius doesn’t have much history with the sport of hockey and can’t skate, he does claim an interesting accomplishment: he has seen a game in every single NHL arena in Canada.

He has more than 20 years of experience in sales in the telecommunications industry. Community was the main reason he wanted to get involved with the Nighthawks.

He was instrumental in lining up corporate sponsorships during the team’s inaugural season. As the club heads into its second year, he looks

GAIL CHORNOBOY BILLET COORDINATOR

Gail Chornoboy, a lifelong Nivervillian, grew up watching her brother Kurtis play for the Northstars.

She got into figure-skating as a youngster and did so competitively for many years. She then started to teach, coaching at competitions in Niverville and the surrounding area.

“I joined the organization because I needed something else to focus

SUB-COMMITTEES

VOLUNTEERS

FRAN GIESBRECHT

GAME DAY PLANNING & OPERATIONS

KEVIN DUNN

CRYSTAL DRZEWIEC

DANA REUTHER

on, since we are empty nesters and winters are long on the couch! Watching our small town grow and change so much over many years, it’s great to see something like a junior hockey team come together. I feel like it brings our whole community closer.”

Her favourite moment in hockey would be teaching her son to skate

forward to building on that success in an official capacity.

“Sitting in the arena, watching the excitement and smiles of families as they come together to cheer on their team, is incredible to see. It’s important to help the team thrive so we can have many years of family enjoyment.”

MERCHANDISE

SHERISSE FAST

ACCOUNTING

VALDINE BORCHERT

FOOD & BEVERAGE

BARRY NACCI

and how to play hockey. She is now teaching her grandson to skate. And he’s already telling her that he wants to be a Nighthawk one day.

“Niverville has always been an inkspot on a map. People used to say, ‘Where is Niverville?’ And I would say, ‘South of Winnipeg.’ But now we are becoming a bold dot on the map!”

PHOTOGRAPHY

NIGHTHAWKS PUZZLE

BY DEREK BOWMAN

ACROSS

1. Niverville, to the Nighthawks

5. Free trial version

9. Clutch, e.g.

16. Get the water ready for spaghetti

17. ___ the air

18. “Sadly, that’s the case”

19. Nighthawks goalie from Stonewall

22. Torque ___, maker of Nighthawk

Lager

23. Reaction to a hard hit

24. “In what way?”

26. Opening for classical or cortex

27. Premier Stefanson who attended the first-ever Nighthawks regular season game

31. Off-the-ice unsung heroes who keep the train going every Nighthawks game

35. Relative of an ostrich

36. Grand ___ Opry

37. Suffix with cream or green

38. His name rhymes with his retired number

39. Niverville Fair attraction

41. Wee Scottish child

43. Orchestras tune to this instrument player

46. DQ treat, or team that the Nighthawks have travelled the farthest to play

48. ___ Flyers, opponents in the first-ever Nighthawks win

50. Politician Alcock

51. Cold, sparkly mist

55. “___ you kidding?”

56. Goalie Kadatz who had the first-ever shutout for the Nighthawks

59. CFL legend Harris who was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Nighthawks Red Carpet Gala

60. Gunderson who scored the first-ever hat trick for the Nighthawks

62. Beaufort or Bering

63. Faced some harsh conditions, say

64. Sound in Winterpeg

65. Josh ___, top point scorer of the Nighthawks’ 2022-2023 season

68. Opponents in the first-ever Nighthawks playoff matchup

73. “Eine ___ Nachtmusik”

74. Language that the words “kiwi” and “mako” come from

76. Problem for a plumber

77. Towards the back of a boat

78. Lucy or Simu of film

79. “Let’s call ___ day”

81. Hospital scan, for short

82. NBA team, or opponents in the first-ever Nighthawks regular season game

86. “C” wearer in hockey, such as Brett Tataryn for the Nighthawks

88. Assistance

89. Photo-sharing app, familiarly

91. Neither here ___ there

92. Actor Fraser, or sniper Bottem who scored the first-ever Nighthawks goal

96. Voice of the Nighthawks

101. Permissive

102. Wrap in Caribbean cuisine

103. Home furnishings giant

104. Revenue source for print media

105. Famous Irish new-age singer

106. The Nighthawks, to Niverville

DOWN

1. Initials in Canadian retail

2. Reaction to fireworks

3. Russian space station until 2001

4. Writer T. S. or George

5. Camper’s tote

6. Pen or centre prefix

7. Ho Chi ___ City

8. Bogey, in golf

9. Owl, to Henri

10. Lesotho’s locale: Abbr.

11. Word in wedding notices

12. “See Saw Margery ___”

13. Pickling liquid

14. Ed who played Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”

15. “We Got the Beat” band

20. Artsy Manhattan neighbourhood

21. Avowed

25. Furtive and crafty

27. Parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme

28. Man’s name that’s a fruit backwards

29. Car with a four-ring logo

30. Caboose

32. “___ whoop!”

33. 1982 sci-fi film

34. Karlsson of the NHL

40. Book before Nehemiah

42. Tony winner Menzel

43. “Man, that hurts!”

44. Czech, for one

45. TV star Hatcher

47. Kind of garden

49. Stimpy’s cartoon pal

52. 405, in Roman numerals

53. “That will be ___ the set of sun”:

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”

54. Gave, on a platter

56. Psychic’s claim

57. Water-resistant wood

58. Lug along

59. Keister, in Leicester

60. Warning from a guard dog

61. Dry, like the Sahara

63. Surprise hits?

64. The U.K., depicted as a female

warrior

66. Long jump

67. Like some sound systems

69. Rock’s Clapton

70. Columnist Bombeck

71. “Umbrella” singer, to fans

72. Take a turn

74. Capital of Belarus

75. Spartan, no-frills

78. Chaney of old horror movies

80. Each

82. Drum heard on the Yardbirds song

“Heart Full of Soul”

83. Brought on board

84. ___ Crush, early 2000s pop band

85. Shades

87. Characteristic

90. Big name in cosmetics

93. Playwright Vardalos

94. Dover’s state: Abbr.

95. “Anne with ___” (CBC show)

97. Ending for odd or dual

98. Hawaiian instrument, informally

99. Business partner of Perrins

100. Singer Cooke, Roberts or Smith

AT PEMBINA SOURCE FOR S

YOUR GO TO SOURCE FOR HO

GOALIE EQUIPMENT REPAIR

HOCKEY EQUIPMENT REPAIR

HOCKEY GLOVE RE-PALMING

HOCKEY SKATE BLADE ALIGNMENT AND SHIMS

HOCKEY SKATE BLADE PROFILING AND BALANCING

HOCKEY SKATE CONTOURING

HOCKEY SKATE HEAT MOLDING

HOCKEY SKATE HEEL LIFTS

PORTS, WE FIT YOUR GAME

We are so proud to become a part of the Niverville Nighthawks family. Every player in the community is going to grow up dreaming of donning the jersey, and we want to be there every step of the way to help them pave their way to the ice.

CKEY AND ALL TEAM SPORTS

HOCKEY SKATE HOLDER AND RUNNER REPLACEMENTS

HOCKEY SKATE REPAIR

HOCKEY SKATE SHARPENING

HOCKEY SKATE STRETCHING & PUNCHING

CUSTOM TEAM AND PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISE

CUSTOM TEAM PRINTING SERVICES