The Niverville Nighthawks secured the Eastern Division regular-season title and opened their post-season with a dominant victory in Niverville, Manitoba. On March 21, 2026, the team defeated the Winkler Flyers 8-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. This win follows a record-breaking regular season where the team earned 103 points, the highest total in the league since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several members of the organization received league-wide recognition for their performance during the 50-6-1 season. Head coach Dwight Hirst was named Coach of the Year, while Austin Dubinsky earned the award for top goaltender. Forward Hayden Wheddon was also honoured as the top scorer in the league, and teammate Merik Boles received the sportsmanship award.
During the opening playoff game at the Niverville Community Resource & Recreation Centre, forward John Scott led the scoring with three goals in the second period. Captain Adam Vigfusson scored the first goal of the game as the team moved past last year’s playoff exit against the same opponent. The team entered the playoffs as the second-ranked junior hockey team in the country according to the CJHL.
