The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Submitted by SJHL The fortunes of the Nipawin Hawks have not been great for the past two seasons, but head coach Doug Johnson is determined that this will be the year in which playoff hockey returns. The Hawks won a league-low 17 games this past season, but Johnson believes the foundation is there for several good teams in future years. That being said, it hasn't been an easy off-season for Johnson as he was forced to make a couple of deals involving veteran players that he hopes won't set the team back. In fact, he feels as if his team is stronger after dealing away 20 year olds Tanner Dusyk and Jamie Johnson who were expected to be leaders for the squad going into the 2011-2012 season. "Trading Tanner and Jamie were things I didn't think I would be doing when the season ended," Johnson admitted. "Jamie came to me and asked for a deal because of family matters and I got a good player back for him and when it comes to Tanner, I received two good players for him as well. I really think both Eric Peterson and Jesse Williamson will be good players for our team so things are starting to look good for us. While Johnson has made some moves that he didn't expect to make, the one move he did make off the ice is the move he thinks might be the best one of all Ð that move was the hiring of assistant coach Chad McLeod. 'Very busy' "Chad hit the ground running and he has been very busy for us this summer since we announced his hiring, "Johnson said. He brings a lot of knowledge to us and he loves recruiting. He has been all over the United States looking for guys and he has found a couple of players including a big 6 foot 6 defenceman that I am excited at seeing. "The fact he was a pro goalie at one time will also really help the guys we have right now. We can't keep all three guys (Brody Hoffman, Stephen Klein, newcomer Davis Jones), but I am working the phones and I am confident that whatever guy I do deal that I will get someone like a top 6 scorer in return." Johnson is also well aware of what a winning season would do for the small northeastern Saskatchewan town and he aims to do his best to bring them a team they can be proud of. "I'd be able to sleep a little better and I probably wouldn't have to buy a beer for a while," laughed Johnson. "I want to win for the guys in the locker-room, but I want to win for the many volunteers that have helped keep this team going over the years. Those people have taken a lot out of their time to make sure the Hawks are financially viable. Those are the people that would get a lot out of a long playoff run because of what they've done to keep a team in Nipawin. I think it would be very special for those people to experience a long and successful playoff run. It would be unique! While Johnson is confident that playoff hockey can return to Nipawin after a two year absence, he is also well aware that it could be tough to go from worst to first in the Bauer Conference because of the Humboldt Broncos who will be hosting the 2012 RBC. The Broncos will obviously have a very strong hockey team, but Johnson has no problems with that saying it can work as a big positive for his team. 'One of the best' "I'm glad Humboldt is hosting the RBC this year and that means they will be one of the best teams in Junior "A" hockey" Johnson states. " It means our guys can challenge themselves to take on the best in the league and make themselves a better hockey team in the process. It also means that perhaps more scouts will take a look at those guys and that those guys can get a scholarship and prove to everyone why the SJHL is the best Junior "A" league in Canada. I don't think I'm the only coach who would make that statement either. If all goes well, we won't be selling off players at the January 10th trade deadline, we will be acquiring players to make us stronger down the stretch. With 2011 rookie of the year Eli Lichtenwald and several returnees coming back along with the additions Johnson has made over the summer, it would appear as if the Hawks have found that road to respectability and will take a long drive down that road during the upcoming season. Only time will tell just how far that road will go, but one can be assured that if things go well that playoff hockey will be returning to one of the league's smallest markets this season. 8/7/11
