The Niverville Nighthawks secured a 2-1 victory over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on April 2, 2026, in the first game of their Manitoba Junior Hockey League semifinal series. Nearly 900 fans attended the game at the Community Resource and Recreation Centre, watching the Nighthawks take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The game featured a tense goaltending duel between Niverville’s Austin Dubinsky and Waywayseecappo’s Jase Wareham. Dubinsky, who was recently named the league goaltender of the year, stopped 24 shots in the win. At the other end of the ice, Wareham was kept busy, making 34 saves throughout the evening.
Niverville opened the scoring early in the second period when Hayden Wheddon capitalized on a 3-on-1 rush, set up by passes from Merik Boles and Adam Vigfusson. After the Wolverines tied the game in the third period thanks to a goal by Noah Oughton, Vigfusson broke the deadlock to secure the win for the home team.
Head coach Dwight Hirst praised his team’s defensive work and penalty killing, noting that limiting the opponent to under 25 shots was a strong effort. The Nighthawks’ special teams also played a role in the victory, as the team converted one of five power-play opportunities while successfully stopping all three of the Wolverines’ man-advantage chances.
This playoff run follows a successful regular season for Niverville, where the team finished with a league-best 51-6-1 record. This series marks the latest step for the team, which recently celebrated its first-ever playoff series victory after sweeping the Winkler Flyers in the opening round.
