The Niverville Nighthawks have seen a historic end to their season, with 20-year-old goaltender Austin Dubinsky named the Canadian Junior Hockey League Goaltender of the Year on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The award recognizes the Ardrossan, Alberta native as the top netminder across the country’s nine junior A hockey leagues.
Dubinsky anchored the team during a record-breaking season where the Nighthawks achieved 103 points, the highest total for any team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League since the pandemic. In 39 regular-season starts, he posted a 34-3-1 record, a 2.18 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage, leading all junior A goalies in total wins. His performance helped the team secure its first-ever Turnbull Cup championship on April 23, 2026, where Dubinsky was also named playoff most valuable player after going 12-1 with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage.
The Nighthawks, now in their fourth season as an expansion franchise, have continued their success at the national Centennial Cup tournament in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The team finished the preliminary round with a perfect 5-0 record, recently securing a 7-6 win against the Rockland Nationals. This result earned the club first place in the standings and an automatic spot in the tournament semifinals.
In addition to Dubinsky’s national recognition, head coach Dwight Hirst has been named a finalist for the Canadian Junior Hockey League Coach of the Year award. Hirst previously received the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Coach of the Year award, known as the Muzz MacPherson Memorial Award, for his leadership during this championship season.
