The Niverville Nighthawks took a 2-0 lead in their opening playoff series after defeating the Winkler Flyers 2-1 on March 23, 2026. The win brings the Niverville, Manitoba team back home for the next game after they won the first two contests of the best-of-seven series.
Dawson Zeller scored both goals during the game held in Winkler, while goaltender Austin Dubinsky stopped 24 shots to help secure the victory. This win follows a high-scoring first game where the Nighthawks won 8-2 in front of a sold-out home crowd.
The Nighthawks finished the regular season with 51 wins and 103 points, which is the highest total for any team in the league since the pandemic. The CJHL currently ranks the team as the second-best junior hockey program in the country.
This year’s series is a rematch from last season when Winkler beat Niverville in the first round of the playoffs. The two teams will meet again at the Community Resource and Recreation Centre on March 25, 2026, where a win would put the Nighthawks one game away from moving to the next round.
