The Niverville Nighthawks have made franchise history by sweeping the Winkler Flyers in four games to advance to the second round of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs. The team secured their spot in the next stage on March 28, 2026, following a 4-0 victory in the series-deciding game.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for the Niverville Nighthawks, an expansion franchise that began play during the 2022-23 season. The team, which plays at the Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre, finished the regular season with a league-best 51-6-1 record, earning 103 points.
Goaltender Austin Dubinsky led the defensive effort in the final game against Winkler, turning aside all 38 shots to record a shutout. Dubinsky, who recently received the Ed Belfour Award as the league’s top goaltender, finished the first-round series with a perfect 4-0 record, a 1.25 goals against average, and a .958 save percentage. Offensively, Adam Vigfusson contributed a goal and two assists in the deciding win and finished the opening round tied for the team lead with six points.
The team’s performance has been supported by strong leadership, including head coach Dwight Hirst, who was named the league’s Coach of the Year, and forward Merik Boles, who received the league’s sportsmanship award for the 2025-26 season. Detailed results from the series confirm that this is the first time the franchise has advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
Looking ahead, the Nighthawks will face the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the second round. Both teams are entering this stage of the competition for the first time in their histories. During the regular season, the Nighthawks won all four matchups against the Wolverines.
