Taking Flight

Dylan

The journey to get the Niverville Nighthawks to this season’s opening puck drop has been an exciting one over the past couple of years.

THE NIVERVILLE NIGHTHAWKS TAKING FLIGHT

As the brand-new CRRC neared completion, the news broke in June 2021 that Niverville would be receiving a MJHL franchise.

“Niverville is recognized as one of the fastest-growing communities in the province, and the MJHL is thrilled to bring a new organization into this community, while adding another first-class and state-ofthe-art facility to our league,” said MJHL commissioner Kevin Saurette at the time. “We have been in ongoing discussions with this group for a number of years and are very confident that the community-owned non-profit organization and the Town of Niverville will provide an ideal new home market for the MJHL moving forward.”

It was a longer road than most people realize. Board vice-presisent Ray Dowse recalls having an initial dialogue with the league over 15 years ago.

“Back in 2007, I was part of a group of three people, including Clarence Braun and Kerry Church, who first introduced the former commissioner, Kim Davis, to Niverville, and some of the initiatives within our community,” says Dowse. “So that’s

when we expressed our intent to some day have a team in town.”

Once it was announced that Niverville would be receiving an MJHL franchise, the focus shifted to hiring the staff and coming up with a name for the team.

Kelvin Cech was quickly named the team’s inaugural head coach and general manager.

“My initial thoughts when I first walked in the arena is that it’s a beautiful state-of-the-art facility,” Cech says. “For a Junior A arena, it’s the perfect size. It’s going to be a really exciting atmosphere for the town, a great place to bring the family to watch hockey. I’ve been around the MJHL before, and to me, this is as good as it gets.”

After receiving nearly 300 submissions from the public, a shortlist of 12 potential team names emerged: Clippers, Express, Ice Dogs, Knights, Nighthawks, Nitro, Nordiques, North Stars, Rail Hounds, Roadrunners, Threshers, and Torque.

In the end, the Nighthawks was the overwhelming choice.

“There’s just something powerful and mysterious about the name Nighthawks,” says Cech. “Our name

gives me chills when I think about it. It’s unique to the Canadian Junior Hockey League and captures the spirit of rural Manitoba. I love it!”

Since then, Cech and his staff have been working tirelessly to find players who will fit into the Nighthawks mould, searching far and wide across North America.

“My assistant GM Mike McAulay and I from day one wanted the best players possible, of course,” he adds. “But more importantly than that, we wanted the best people. We’ve been looking for character first and foremost—and compete. All of these guys that we’ve committed to, that’s what they’ve got, because if it were easy, every team would be in the Centennial Cup like the Dauphin Kings last year. But it’s not easy! So we need guys that can chip away and be resilient when things don’t totally go our way.”

The final product is what you will see on the ice for the upcoming 2022–23 season. It’s sure to be an exciting one as the Nighthawks have put together a great roster to contend for the playoffs in their inaugural season.

LETTER FROM THE

NIGHTHAWKS PRESIDENT

I want to begin by briefly describing the journey that has led us to the home opener for the newest franchise in the MJHL.

It started with a lunch meeting in 2007 with Kim Davis, the former commissioner of the MJHL. In that initial conversation, I introduced him to Niverville and he passed along some information about what it would take to get a new franchise off the ground.

Soon other community members joined in and many follow-up meetings were had. Over the course of the next few years, Niverville continued to grow. And then came a new rec facility, the CRRC, which would give us the home ice we needed.

We were eventually awarded a new franchise in June 2021. The last year has moved along at a furious pace for the new board of directors.

What a journey it has been to get to the home opener of the Niverville Nighthawks! On behalf of the entire board and founder members of the Nighthawks, I want to express my appreciation to the community of Niverville and the surrounding region. The support we’ve felt has been incredible.

We welcome and thank the founder and legacy shareholders who have joined forces with us, the season ticket holders, the game day ticket holders, and the sponsors. The truth is that without everyone

working together, none of this would be possible.

I also want to sincerely thank the current commissioner of the MJHL, Kevin Saurette, along with his staff and all the governors of the 12 teams that have welcomed us into the league. We also thank the council of the Town of Niverville, as well as Eric King, Warren Britton, and the rest of the staff at the CRRC for welcoming us into this beautiful facility.

On behalf of the board of directors, once again we thank you all for your support.

CLARENCE BRAUN PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR

LETTER FROM THE

MJHL COMMISSIONER

I would like to officially introduce myself to the community of Niverville. My name is Kevin Saurette and I have been commissioner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League since July 1, 2020.

I assumed this role after working for four seasons as MJHL Director of Operations under long-time MJHL commissioner Kim Davis.

I grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and currently reside in Winnipeg with my wife Sarah and our two daughters, Sophie and Molly.

Before my time with the MJHL, I enjoyed a ten-year professional hockey-playing career where I experienced stops in the U.S., Germany, and Belfast, Northern Ireland. During my time in Belfast, I had the opportunity to enroll in Ulster University into the Executive MBA Program where I earned my Master’s degree with distinction.

On behalf of the MJHL board of governors, I would like to welcome the community of Niverville and surrounding area into the MJHL family. It was a very exciting day for the MJHL community when Niverville was granted an expansion franchise to operate in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Niverville is recognized as one of the fastest growing communities in the province and the MJHL board of governors was thrilled to be able to bring a new organization into this community while also adding another first-class, state-of-the-art facility into our league.

We had been in ongoing discussions with the management group for a number of years and we are very confident that the communityowned non-profit organization and the Town of Niverville will provide an ideal new home market both on

and off the ice for the MJHL going forward.

I would also like to recognize the significant commitment and efforts of Clarence Braun, who was instrumental in helping to bring this franchise to Niverville.

Like everyone in Niverville, we are also very excited for the inaugural season of Nighthawks hockey and for the many seasons to follow.

Thank you to everyone involved who helped bring MJHL hockey to Niverville and we wish much success to the Nighthawks management team, hockey operations staff, and all of their partners and supporters as they embark on their inaugural season in the best Junior A League in Canada.

Best wishes and good luck,

KEVIN SAURETTE COMMISSIONER, MJHL

WELCOME TO

NIVERVILLE’S

On July 1, 2021, the Town of Niverville marked the official grand opening of the Community Resource and Recreation Centre (CRRC). The $19.5 million facility had long been in the works. It was first proposed seven years ago, with construction breaking ground on the facility in July 2019.

The CRRC will play host to the Niverville Nighthawks for many years to come and will surely gain a reputation as one of the finest facilities in the MJHL.

“Through the years, council and the community have kept this dream. Some have had it for a lot longer than me,” said Niverville’s mayor Myron Dyck when the facility first opened. “I’m just very grateful for everyone that has been involved. A project like this doesn’t come together except for the support of some very key people.”

Mayor Dyck acknowledged many of the people involved with the project, from the upper levels of government to the volunteers and town staff who handled so much of the legwork over the years of its development and construction.

“This project has been just a real treat. It’s probably been, if not the highlight, then for sure one of the top couple of highlights for me in having the privilege to be able to serve the people of Niverville, to be able to be part of this team.”

Upon entering the front doors of the CRRC, visitors find themselves in a spacious lobby which stretches the full length of the building. One end features the main washrooms, a seating area, a trophy case, and a donor wall that recognizes the many people who have made contributions to the building.

On the other end, visitors find a multipurpose space, a community kitchen, and a hallway link to the attached Niverville High School.

The indoor playground is a sight to behold on the far west

end of the building. The structure rises the full height of the building, presenting children with a maze of dizzying ramps, slides, and obstaclecourse-like features that keep them busy for hours. A bathroom is located just off the playground area so that parents don’t have to bustle their children from one end of the expansive building to the other.

“To be able to hear the sound of children at play is music to my ears,” Mayor Dyck said. “To know that there’s going to be children interacting with one another, and just the innocence and freedom of them at play, and then the relationships that will form with the other parents’ groups that will be there at the same time, that’s just huge.”

Just a few feet away from the playground is the large fieldhouse,

NIVERVILLE’S CRRC

which can be divided into a number of smaller sports courts to provide a great deal of flexibility. The entire floor space can be used as a full futsal (indoor soccer) court, or the centre of the room can be converted to showcase a feature basketball or volleyball court. Alternatively, the space can accommodate two individual basketball courts, three volleyball courts, or nine badminton courts.

To provide further flexibility, built-in electronics are able to raise and lower the basketball nets, lower court separator curtains, and control the overhead lights individually. There are three scoreboards, which can either be used separately or connected to show results from the same game.

The fieldhouse is adjoined by three change rooms, as well as two

locker rooms. The standard number of bleacher seats is 350, although this number can be expanded depending on how much floor space is being used for each event.

Overlooking the fieldhouse is a large walking/running track which features three lanes. It also provides an outstanding view for those needing standing room when the bleachers may be full.

“Our other gyms in town are utilized by kids, but there’s no opportunity for adults in Niverville to get involved in any kind of recreation in them because they’re full,” said Mayor Dyck. “To now have a facility like this, where we can have wellness and recreation for adults… it’s an incredible opportunity for people where they no longer have to leave the community to find it.”

In the future, the town’s wellattended Remembrance Day services will likely be relocated to the CRRC from the Heritage Centre, where they have drawn packed crowds for many, many years.

The fieldhouse will also be used for more than just sports. Carpet can be rolled across the floor, converting the space into a large event hall that is able to accommodate up to 1,500 people at one time.

On the other side of the CRRC, visitors encounter a state-of-the-art arena. This is the Nighthawks home.

The arena comes with initial seating for 750 spectators, although the number of seats is in the process of being expanded to accommodate more fans at Nighthawks games.

Below the bleachers are six dressing rooms. They are, for the

most part, identical to each other— except two are fully accessible.

This space also includes a series of storage rooms, a ref room, and a first aid room.

Upstairs, the second level includes an ample meeting space straddling the fieldhouse and arena, with excellent views of both. The space can be divided into two separate 1,600-square-foot rooms. These rooms have rubberized floors, making them well-suited for aerobics and yoga classes. They can also be used to host meetings.

The second level also features a pair of additional washrooms for guests to the facility.

As you can see, the CRRC is truly a sight to behold. And the Nighthawks are going to be all the better for it in the years to come!

WHAT IS THE

MJHL?

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is the oldest Junior league in Canada, established in 1917–18 as the Winnipeg and District Junior Hockey League. In 1933, it was renamed to the current title.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is one of the most storied leagues in Canada. In its inaugural season, the Selkirk Fishermen defeated the Fort Rouge Wanderers to win the league’s first championship.

The Turnbull Memorial Trophy, also known popularly as the Turnbull Cup, has been the MJHL championship trophy for more than a hundred years, and it’s highly coveted.

The trophy was donated in 1920 in honour of Captain Walter James “Ollie” Turnbull, veteran of World War I. Turnbull was killed in active duty in 1916 and awarded the Military Cross for Bravery.

The Selkirk Fishermen defeated the Winnipeg Young Men’s Lutheran Club in 1920 to earn the first championship. In 2019, the Portage Terriers became the one hundredth team awarded the Turnbull Cup.

In the 1940s and 1950s, most MJHL teams were sponsored by

NHL teams and sported names such as the Winnipeg Black Hawks, St. Boniface Canadiens, and Winnipeg Rangers.

Over the years, more than two hundred MJHL players have gone on to the NHL, and 11 of those MJHL graduates have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Andy Bathgate, Turk Broda, Art Coulter, Bobby Clarke, Charlie Gardiner, Bryan Hextall, Tom Johnson, Harry Oliver, Babe Pratt, Terry Sawchuk, and Jack Stewart.

In that time, the MJHL has produced 14 national championship teams, winning 11 Memorial Cups and three Centennial/RBC Cups.

Today, the MJHL is a 13-team Junior A ice hockey league and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

Of the 13 teams, eight qualify for each year’s playoffs. The playoff champion is awarded the Turnbull

Cup and then competes against the champion from Saskatchewan for the ANAVET Cup and a berth to the Centennial Cup (formerly known as the Royal Bank Cup).

The MJHL has developed into a tough, competitively balanced league, with any team able to win on any given day. This has created some tremendous playoff series to the delight of the MJHL’s loyal fanbase.

The MJHL continues a very rich tradition of developing players for advancement to the higher levels of hockey. When a player decides to play for an MJHL team, he will be joining an impressive group of young men who have played in the league and gone on to greatness in the NHL and in other careers.

The Niverville Nighthawks expansion franchise is proud to join the MJHL as its thirteenth team to begin play in the 2022–23 season.

COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

KELVIN CECH

I’m Kelvin, and I have the incredible honour of being the first general manager and head coach in the history of the Niverville Nighthawks.

It’s nearly impossible to describe what that means to me, but I’ll try… because we’re asking a lot of people to try new things at the moment— hockey players, volunteers, staff, board members.

Since my involvement in this project began, we’ve shared the word honour multiple times.

Bringing Junior A hockey to Niverville has been a long-time dream of our first board president,

Clarence Braun. And when I think about the first people who will pull the jersey over their heads, I can’t help but be reminded of the old school team photos from the 70s and 80s that hung in the minor hockey rinks of my youth. You’ve all seen them: toothless grins immortalized alongside the sweet scent of oily arena fries that greeted young girls and boys as they stomped their boots in the lobby.

At some point, today’s group of young men will celebrate their involvement with the team in the same way.

It’s thrilling to be one small part of this culture of honour. The coaches, management staff, and most importantly the players aren’t taking a second of this for granted.

We thank you, the town of Niverville, for embracing us, supporting us, and encouraging us to focus on the road ahead. We understand the opportunity here and we’re going to do all we can to seize each moment as it arrives.

KELVIN CECH

HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

Building a culture of honour is a huge priority for the Nighthawks’ first head coach and general manager.

What do hockey scouts look for when evaluating prospects? If you’re a young player looking to play Junior hockey, earn a college/university scholarship, or even play professionally, this article might be able to provide you with some pointers.

WHAT DO SCOUTS LOOK FOR?

First off, scouts tend to rate players in five main categories: skating, size, game sense, skill, and character. It’s extremely rare that a player scores a perfect five for five in each category. Instead players need to play to their biggest strengths and make sure they’re a five out of five in their strongest categories.

Each player out there has parts to their game that are different and unique. But it’s the intangible attributes that can move your hockey career to the next level.

“Scouts and coaches are always looking for players who can skate and read the game,” says Nathan Leslie, hockey consultant at Leslie Global Sports, “and who are willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win and add to team chemistry. Young players need to realize that someone is always watching. Consistent behaviour and performance day in and day out are keys to success. They must do something to get noticed. That ‘something’ can come from a wide range of

plays—something that catches the eye of a scout, and makes the scout take notice enough to remember the player once the game is over.”

While highlight-reel goals and high-skill plays may get your name circled, that circle on your name can quickly turn into a big “X” if those really big plays come at the expense of playing a team game or if your next few shifts are spent cruising and lounging around the neutral zone looking for a stretch pass to go in and score again.

Here are some intangibles that scouts are looking for.

Forwards should support the puck, keep a forward high in the offensive zone, backcheck through the middle of the ice, minimize turnovers, and cover for pressured or pinching defensive players.

Defencemen should get up-ice with the play to minimize gaps, keep attacking forwards to the outside, stay between attacking forwards and the net, use their partners instead of throwing the puck away

under pressure, and get shots past shot-blockers.

Goalies should minimize rebounds that bounce into the slot, battle to make second saves (rebounds), communicate with the defence in the defensive zone, play the puck on dump-ins by setting it behind the net for a teammate (or by passing it to the defence), and never quit until the puck is covered or is in the net.

Blair Courchene, a scout for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, says that when he’s watching a game, he looks for a number of key things.

“What players do after something negative happens, how they respond to a play that doesn’t get made to them,” Courchene says. “Decision-making and creativity in small areas under pressure to escape pressure. And the ability to manipulate situations to their favour.”

As a young hockey player, you should always try your hardest to play the right way whenever you’re on the ice. You just never know who is watching.

Kevin Pauls has recently been brought on to become the Niverville Nighthawks’ official broadcaster for radio and Hockey TV for the 2022–23 season.

MEET THE VOICE OF

THE NIGHTHAWKS

Kevin Pauls, the official broadcaster for Nighthawks radio and Hockey TV for the inaugural season, was born in Winnipeg in 1977 and then raised in Morden, where he continues to live with his wife and three kids.

“I grew up playing every sport, including hockey, just not organized,” says Pauls. “My dad built me rinks, and I skated and practiced there.”

Pauls has also coached at all levels of minor hockey as well as some high school and Manitoba development programs.

Prior to joining the Nighthawks, he served with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers as their broadcaster.

“I’ve always been an avid hockey fan,” he says. “I grew up watching a lot of hockey and have been a

New Jersey Devils fan since the late 1980s. Southern Manitoba had plenty of good hockey to watch at the rink, so I was always at Morden Redskins, Pembina Valley Hawks, or Winkler Flyers games whenever possible.”

Besides watching his kids play the game, Pauls’s favourite moment in hockey arrived when he saw the New Jersey Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2000.

“Jason Arnott scored in double overtime as some friends and I watched on a tiny 13-inch TV at a cabin,” says Pauls of the seminal moment. “We went bananas! My friends and I have a tradition of watching hockey outside on the deck, weather permitting, and I’d

have to say that’s my favourite thing about hockey now.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Pauls is beyond thrilled to become the team’s voice for their first-ever campaign.

“Joining the Niverville Nighthawks is a great opportunity, not just from the broadcasting perspective but to witness a hockey team being built from the ground up is pretty cool,” he says. “The people here are really great, and working with Kelvin Cech is a pleasure. I get to do what I love most with my daughter at my side. It doesn’t get any better than that. I’m beyond excited to be a part of this organization and to see what it does for the community. Let’s go!”

There are many moving parts to getting a new team like the Nighthawks ready to hit the ice, and one of the most important is finding billet homes for all of the players.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BILLETING

Gail Chornoboy is the billeting coordinator for the Nighthawks. Over the last several months, her job has been to find families who are willing to take one or more of these 16- to 20-year-old men into their homes for the hockey season. That can be a long time, as training camp generally starts around late August and the season’s playoffs can last until May.

Each of the two dozen players who made the team’s final roster filled out a questionnaire indicating what they hoped to find in a billeting family. Each prospective family filled out a similar questionnaire describing what type of player they hoped to host.

Chornoboy then took a tour of each potential home to ensure that it was appropriate for a player. The team members each need their own bedroom with a window, and the bedroom must have a place for the player to keep his belongings.

Once the questionnaires were filled out, and the home tours were conducted, Chornoboy and head coach Kelvin Cech spent some time deciding which player would go to which home. This process is critically important as the players truly become a part of the family over the course of the season.

Not only that, but some of these players will return to their billet home for up to four years.

Anyone can billet, says Chornoboy, and players can request what they believe will make them feel at home. Some players, for example, may request a family with young children as they may have young siblings at home and want to have surrogate brothers and sisters.

“I want to hear the good stuff, but more importantly, if it’s not going

well, I want to hear that, too,” says Chornoboy. “Kelvin and I will talk about it with the family and the young men and see how to help the families and the young men work it out, or we will change their home.”

Billet families get a stipend to help cover the costs of their temporary family member. This money can be especially useful to cover the cost of groceries.

“Hockey players eat a lot!” she says. “Being a billet family host, you will not be making money, but you will be making a great new relationship with your family.”

Families are not responsible for getting their players to or from practices, although they can if they want to. Some players do arrive with their own vehicles, and often they help each other get to and from practices and games.

Some of the players are still school-age and will be enrolled at the Niverville High School. Those who have graduated from high school will be encouraged to take university courses or, if they are not attending university, find a job within the community.

Chornoboy says that a billet family ultimately has two obligations: feed their young man and make him feel like he’s part of the family.

Cech agrees that one of the primary goals is making the player feel welcome.

“The biggest thing is just having a friendly home and a friendly family to live with,” says Cech. “These guys start out as strangers when they go into these homes, but that’s over pretty quick, and they become like a member of the family.”

But it’s important, too, Cech points out, to remember that trades

happen, and sometimes a player may have to move along.

“Whether a player is in a billet home for two months or two years or four years, we just want a good, positive situation for them to live in,” he says.

Cech feels that a good billet home can even have a noticeable effect on a player’s game-time performance.

“It’s a place that they go back to after the game and vent their thoughts, whether it’s excitement or frustration,” adds Cech. “Hockey is a difficult game and where you live and how you conduct yourself off the ice certainly has an impact on how you perform on the ice.”

The Nighthawks will be held to a strict code of conduct by their coach.

Cech says that he expects his players to be valuable members of the community and that each player’s behaviour represents the entire team and community.

“We hold ourselves to a very high standard,” he says of his expectation of excellence. “It’s important to me that the players enjoy their teammates and spend time with their teammates away from the rink when their coach isn’t around, but they are coming to town to play hockey, to develop, and to move on in their hockey career and their life. There are a lot of life lessons to be learned.”

Chornoboy echoes this sentiment.

“We as a community want the players to feel like they are at home, and we want everyone to have an awesome experience,” Chornoboy says. “The young men and their families will become part of the family. This will be a lasting experience for everyone.”

Brian and Gail Chornoboy with their billet, player Josh Paulus.

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

The unique community ownership model lies at the beating heart of what the Niverville Nighthawks are all about. At its core, the team strives at every level to put community first.

“The team will contribute to the identity of this community, proudly representing this region on a provincial stage, and hopefully some day at the national tournament,” says Ray Dowse, vice-president of the board. “There are a lot of contributing factors helping this organization get on its feet. However, a critical piece is the people and organizations who choose to join the community ownership group.”

Community ownership means that the team is effectively owned by the members of the community, both individuals and businesses who choose to invest.

Because the organization operates as a non-profit, Dowse says that those who invest do so “with the understanding that the greatest return will be the positive impact it will have on the community and region as a whole.”

There are two types of shareholders in the Nighthawks organization: founder shareholders and legacy shareholders. Both are essential to the club’s success.

The founder shareholders are the backbone of the Nighthawks. Each founder shareholder has voting rights, and the group collectively assumes the team’s operational and financial responsibilities.

The team’s first board of directors was chosen from the founder shareholders. All future board members will also be chosen from this group.

The cost to become a founder shareholder is $10,000. That money has been used for team start-up and operational costs.

“Having a significant number of shareholders such as this backing the organization is positive for the Nighthawks,” Dowse says. “It creates a very strong foundation for the team to work from going forward.”

He adds that becoming a founder shareholder comes with several significant benefits. Founder shareholders have the first chances to secure team sponsorships, season

tickets, and exclusive events and merchandise.

The second group of owners, legacy shareholders, also play a significant part in the organization.

“Although legacy shareholders do not have voting rights, they receive regular team communication, copies of annual team financials, and the option to secure season tickets and passes to team events before being offered to the general public, along with some team merchandise.”

Although there are many opportunities to be involved with team operations, legacy shareholders are not required to foot any additional financial responsibilities or obligations other than the initial purchase cost.

The cost of a legacy share is $1,400. Of that cost, $1,000 is eligible for a tax receipt from the Town of Niverville. The majority of the funds raised through these legacy shares will be used directly for infrastructure at the CRRC.

The Nighthawks have a goal to attain 250 legacy shareholders, which would raise $250,000 for the CRRC.

The Nighthawks are truly a community franchise in every sense of the word, to the point where members of the public are able to own a piece of the team.

DESIGNING A

KILLER LOGO

In the months leading up to the first puck drop, the team’s board of directors appointed Ray Dowse to take the lead with the team-naming initiative and logo design, in collaboration with head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech.

In mid-November, the teamnaming initiative kicked off when the board of directors went in search of public feedback.

A shortlist of names was selected from hundreds of initial submissions, and an online poll was conducted to help with the final decision.

Immediately following the selection of the name—the Niverville Nighthawks—the team had less than two months to come up with the logos and colours, since the equipment order for pants, gloves, and helmets needed to be sent off to its supplier by March 15, as well as

practice and spring camp jerseys.

With a firm and relatively short timeline in front of the Nighthawks, the team had to take a collaborative approach to get everything done.

Being a community team, the Nighthawks tested out multiple colour schemes with its final logos to gather feedback from an informal public focus group of around 100 people. The board of directors then used the information that was collected as part of its final decision-making process.

For the actual design of the logos, the team hired Brooks Freeman Design out of Virden, which has an impressive history of working with hockey logos and uniforms, including the Prince Albert Raiders, Brandon Wheat Kings, Virden Oil Capitals, and most recently the Neepawa Titans rebrand.

“I poured through different sports logos and pictures of birds or hawks online to provide our designers with ideas and try to determine the look and feel we were trying to capture for our team,” says Ray Dowse. “We were really looking for something that would connect with both the players and community as a whole.”

Prolific sports logo designer Brooks Freeman noted that the design process went quite smoothly overall for this project.

“We started by trying out a couple of different types of hawk logo variations, such as a full body side view, top view, and also some focusing more on the head or the wings of a hawk,” recalls Freeman of the design process. “Eventually, we landed on a three-quarters view of a hawk head inside the shield. Having an N or NN with the hawk was

The Niverville Nighthawks are entering the MJHL in a big way with the release of their official team logo.

also a request, and I found a way to discreetly sneak the letters NN into the body of the hawk. The tone of the logo is meant to be bold, fierce, and menacing.”

He adds that the secondary logo went through quite a few variations.

“The team wanted to do a simpler letter logo that would appear well on merchandise and be instantly recognizable,” Freeman continues. “The letters NN were put together in quite a few ways, but I ended up going with a baseball logo-inspired intercrossed NN that I felt would look good as both a shoulder patch and on the front of a hat or shirt. This logo has sharp edges and tries to capture the same tone as the primary logo so that the two feel like they complete each other when placed together on a jersey.”

The colour scheme went through many different ideas throughout the project. In the end, Freeman was very pleased with the final product.

“The team knew they wanted to do something very unique to not just the MJHL, but hockey in general,” says Freeman. “We tried a couple of versions with different shades of purples, greys, blues, and reds before settling on the navy, red,

grey, and yellow. This bold scheme stands out, and I think it helps the logos and jerseys become more appealing.”

In addition to Freeman’s work, the Nighthawks were fortunate that multiple designers and the general public reached out to the team right at the beginning to offer up ideas and rough preliminary designs to help determine a direction to go in with the logo.

“We want to give special thanks to Dustin Krahn of Excel Graphics in Niverville, as well as Scott Stroh. They both came up with some exceptional visual concepts at the beginning of the process,” says Dowse. “Our head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech has a jersey software program, and he was keen to help with the development of the overall uniform, incorporating different colour schemes and plans. As logos were developed by our designers, Kelvin would draft numerous uniforms head to toe to give us a feel of what a logo would look like incorporated into a uniform and with the colours in the logo.”

“I’m a bit biased, but I think it’s the best logo in the whole world. It represents us and our town very well,” adds Kelvin Cech. “All of a sudden, this feels very real. We have a name and a distinct look, as that hawk is very menacing and mean, very proud and bold. We’re stoked.”

When Freeman completed the final hawk logo, the board of directors knew right away that they had truly attained the look they were hoping for.

“The secondary logo or arm patch concept actually came from my son Max, who just turned 14,” says Dowse. “I was pouring over ideas, and he told me to check out what a lot of the players on his hockey team were wearing for apparel.”

Max Dowse says that he was inspired by the logos he saw on baseball hats, particularly with Major League Baseball logos.

“I saw that most of the logos were just the main letters of the team name in different fonts and designs,” says Max. “I also figured out that some of the NCAA hockey teams, like the North Dakota Fighting

Hawks, had N and D as their logo. So I used these ideas and helped create the double-N logo for the Niverville Nighthawks.”

After hand-drawing a logo, his father sent his work to Brooks, who then came back with the double-N design that received immediate board approval.

“Max was pretty excited that his drawing turned into part of the team uniform!” says Dowse.

What came next for the Nighthawks? The jerseys.

The club got to work tackling all the small details of its jersey design process. This challenging project came together over the course of several months and involved a lot of tweaking from Cech, Dowse, and board member Kevin Lansard.

“In the end, the development of the uniform from head to toe was a collaborative effort from a number of people,” Dowse adds. “Every little detail was analyzed at length until those final tweaks were made and we had a finished product everyone could agree on. As an organization, we are extremely proud of how the end product came together, and look forward to seeing it in action this season!”

During the summer, it was announced that the Nighthawks would partner up with Torque Brewing to create a unique and delicious lager beer to help celebrate the team’s inaugural season.

GREAT BEER CREATING A

Winnipeg-based Torque Brewing is about to celebrate its sixth anniversary as a company. Since day one, they have made it a rule to partner with local institutions and sports organizations for fundraisers, sponsorships, and other forms of support.

Making great beer and giving back to the community has always been its mission.

Over a year ago, when it was clear that Niverville would be home to the newest team in the MJHL, the people behind the nascent team identified a number of key revenue drivers to consider. Of course, one of those was the beer that would eventually be sold at home games.

A traditional system of beer supply and sale would see the Nighthawks purchase beer from a supplier and resell it at games for a markup, with the proceeds covering the cost of goods, staffing, licensing, bar infrastructure, and security, in addition to contributing to the team’s operating budget.

“I could see the potential for a very unique partnership beyond the traditional supply and sale model,” says Ray Dowse, vice-president of the Nighthawks board of directors. “It just required the right brewery to partner with who had a similar vision of the potential opportunity. Over the course of several months, fellow board member Jeremy Braun and I spoke with a number of different breweries about the opportunity in Niverville with our new MJHL team, each of whom discussed ideas and options to consider. But there was one brewery that really recognized

the scope of the potential partnership with the Nighthawks and could embrace and build on the vision to create something unique for the team and community.”

Torque Brewing started chatting with the Nighthawks last year, proposing to brew a co-branded beer to be served in the arena, as well as at local establishments, beer vendors, and liquor marts.

The idea is to support the community and local sports, using a local product while offering a great experience to hockey fans.

“My first conversation with Torque was with one of the owners in early summer 2021,” says Dowse. “This was before the team had even considered name options, as we were just getting the details of the new franchise finalized with the MJHL. West Hawk Lake in the Whiteshell is a place my family frequent as a camping destination in summer, and one of the owners of Torque also has a cottage in the Whiteshell, so our first meeting to discuss the opportunity took place at the lake when we were both out one weekend.”

It just so happened that the pair met at the Nite Hawk Cafe in West Hawk Lake for their first real meeting. In hindsight, that was a sign of things to come.

“From that initial meeting, we continued to add ideas and concepts and built on the details of how this partnership could come together,” Dowse adds. “Over the course of many months of dialogue, we were able to complete our agreement, which was incredibly exciting! From

the beginning, the Torque ownership group, their board of directors, and management team clearly understood that this was not just a contract to sell beer, but an investment into the team and the region.”

The partnership between Torque and the Nighthawks is billed as a win-win, as it will build up awareness about the league. And it works as a fundraiser, with a portion of the profits benefiting the Nighthawks organization.

Part of the agreement includes an exclusive Nighthawks-branded beer, which is something both Torque and the Nighthawks board of directors have been excited to see roll out to the public over the summer.

Adam Olson, co-founder of Torque Brewing, is one of the faces behind this partnership.

“It has been a pleasure to plan and organize this partnership, from the first draft to the final stages,” says Olson. “After a lot of hard work and heart that the Nighthawks and their crew put into their arena, we are more than excited to see the beer pour and the crowd cheer.”

Matthew Wolff, vice-president of operations at Torque, agrees. “The connection between beer and sports is centuries old, and there is no better way to cheer the team than sipping a Nighthawk lager while watching the game.”

The Nighthawk lager is available in 30-litre kegs and 355-millilitre cans. Not only that, but the beer is already available for sale at local stores in the Niverville area.

What makes a Junior A hockey team successful? With so many moving parts to the team (including players, staff, and volunteers all working together) what will make the Nighthawks a team that lasts and, hopefully, prevails?

WHAT MAKES A JUNIOR TEAM SUCCESSFUL?

Nighthawks head coach and general manager Kelvin Cech has been instrumental in building this team from the ground up and he sees many factors that are involved in making a successful team.

But the first word that comes to his mind is consistency.

“I think we’ll be successful when we find consistency in our routine and settle into what a day in the life of a Junior hockey player looks like,” Cech says.

After consistency comes the twin keys of the players getting to know each other and bonding as a group.

Cech also points out that the players need to be living healthy lifestyles if the team wants to do well.

“We need kids who are taking care of themselves and getting proper rest and nutrition and coming to the rink every day ready to work,” Cech says.

The task of building a team from the ground up has indeed been monumental, Cech acknowledges, but there are so many people involved.

And he says that each one of them is stepping up to do their part to make the Nighthawks a successful organization.

Mike McAulay, assistant general manager and director of scouting, agrees with Cech regarding the importance of all the people involved. He says that the success of the Nighthawks starts at the top of the house.

“You look at someone like Clarence Braun, who is such a visionary from his time going back to when he was mayor,” McAulay says. “He put the wheels in motion for this. Then there’s the board of directors… the ownership group. It starts there with their vision and what they want to see out of people within this organization. Then comes the hiring of Kelvin Cech as head coach. He’s very culture-oriented. From there it goes to all the rest of the staff and volunteers, and finally down to the players that we’ve been able to recruit. Everyone really checks the boxes that we need checked.”

Both McAulay and Cech mention character as a critical factor in the success of the Nighthawks.

McAulay says that of course each player they’ve signed also has the skill level necessary to play on a Junior A team, but what will make the team achieve their goals and make individual players stand out is their competitiveness and character.

Fans of the team can help them succeed, too.

“Fans can come to the games and be as loud as possible and embrace the team as their own,” Cech says.

McAulay agrees. “We’ve asked our players to really embrace the community of Niverville and I think it would be just awesome if that was reciprocated.”

McAulay says that he’s already seen this happening and felt tremendous support from the people in and around Niverville.

“There are going to be some highs and lows,” McAulay says, “but we’re all going to be on this journey together.”

GO NIGHTHAWKS

T2K Enterprises and our affliate companies congragulate the Town of Niverville and surrounding area on the launch of the Niverville Nighthawks. We wish the Nighthawks success in their inaugural season and for years to come.

ABOUT US

Based out of Winnipeg, MB, T2K Enterprises is a full service development company, specalizing in the development of commercial and industrial properties while pushing the envelope on innovative and sustainable construction practices.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stephen Kleysen

Email: skleysen@t2kenterprises.com Phone: (204) 489-3822 Website: t2kenterprises.ca

Website: mcgillivraybusinesspark.com

AIDAN BALLANCE

PLAYER PROFILE

BORN | MAY 30, 2003

AGE | 19

HEIGHT | 5’ 9”

Aidan Ballance was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He has played hockey since he was seven years old.

diagnosed with the disorder when he was 13.

He’s lucky enough that the condition has not affected his ability

KIJHL, where he scored 19 points in 38 games.

Ballance’s favourite moment on the ice came when he was in Atom, when his team won Edmonton’s Minor Hockey Week.

An interesting fact about Ballance is that he has epilepsy and was

to play hockey, and instead he uses it as motivation to keep moving up the ranks.

set culture. 168

Before joining the Nighthawks, Ballance spent the 2021–22 season with the Golden Rockets of the

“I see joining the Nighthawks as a unique opportunity to play for an expansion team and help set the foundation for strong culture. I’m very excited to be a Nighthawk this season and to have the opportunity to play in front of the best fans in Junior hockey.”

DEVIN BENSON

BORN | JUN. 30, 2003

AGE

Devin Benson was born in North Vancouver. He was raised in nearby Squamish for two years before the family moved to Lac Le Jeune, a small lakeside community 20 minutes south of Kamloops.

Benson has been playing hockey

since he was six years old. When he was 14, he was billeted and played for the Bantam prep team with Yale Hockey Academy in the CSSHL.

He was drafted to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. But instead

of going the WHL route, he stayed at Yale for two years and then returned to Kamloops to play Major Midget the following year. The last two years he has played Junior in the BCHL and the KIJHL.

“I’ve learned with all the ups

and downs of hockey that you have to do what feels right for you, as everybody’s path is different, and not to get caught up or worrying about what others are doing or what they think you should do. When I was

approached by Mike and Kelvin, I was blown away at how much they had researched the type of player I was. And after our meeting, I just knew it was the right fit for me and to be a part of a new team made it even better.”

One of Benson’s favourite things is playing hockey on the outdoor rinks—and he says he lucked out in Niverville, as his amazing billets just so happen to have one in their backyard.

Merik Boles was born and raised close to home in Lorette, Manitoba. He grew up playing for local teams and in the Eastman Selects AAA system for much of his youth.

The 17-year-old Boles spent last season with the Eastman Selects U18 AAA team and scored 45 points in 39 games.

His favourite memory in hockey was playing in the Brick Hockey Tournament when he was younger, and more recently at the Mac’s Tournament in Calgary with his U18 team last year.

“I think playing for the Nighthawks is best for my development and I am very excited to make the

team as a 17-year-old and to play in front of the Niverville fans. The support has been great already. It’s a good situation for me to play for a Junior team so close to my hometown of Lorette.”

BORN | MAY 7, 2002

HEIGHT | 6’ 0”

EVAN BORTIS

Evan Bortis was born in Saskatoon and raised in Regina. He lived in Regina until he was 15 before the family moved back to Saskatoon.

Coming from a hockey background, Bortis’s dad played in the WHL for the Calgary Hitmen.

Bortis’s favourite moment in hockey to date was just recently getting the opportunity to play

BRENDAN BOTTEM

Brendan Bottem was born and raised in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He has been playing hockey ever since he was five years old. He has a rich

hockey background, with his father having played the game both at the high school and college level.

Junior hockey and even score his very first Junior A goal.

He looks forward to helping to create a winning culture in Niverville

and bond with this group of guys.

“For me, joining the Niverville Nighthawks was a huge honour and was the best opportunity for me as it’s a new organization with a solid group of coaches, players,

board members, and of course the fans. It really makes this first year in the league a huge honour and an opportunity to do something special.

I hope to make some brothers for life and further my hockey career. I’m beyond excited to get things going this year with the Nighthawks and do something special!”

Dayden Collier was born in Swift

Current. Early on, his family moved to different parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta until finally settling in Medicine Hat, which is where Collier has lived for most of his life.

Collier first started skating in a small town in Saskatchewan called Shaunavon where his grandparents ran the local rink. He played his first year of hockey at the age of four.

“Ever since then, I have grown so much passion and love for the

Bottem has spent the past three seasons playing high school hockey in Thief River Falls.

During the most recent 2021–

most 2022 campaign, Bottem scored 28 goals and 23 assists for 51 points in 28 games.

“Joining the Nighthawks organization is important to me because of how much support there is for this team and how excited people are to

watch us play. I’m super excited to get things going with these guys and I am excited for a fun year.”

game of hockey, and I have also met so many people and friends from playing hockey.”

Collier’s favourite hockey memory happened this past winter while playing in his last minor hockey season.

“My team and I got the privilege to play in the annual Mac’s Hockey Tournament, which is one of the biggest U18 tournaments to attend, and we ended up getting first. The whole experience was unforgettable

and it’s something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

He adds that joining the Nighthawks has been a privilege and an honour.

“It is important to me that I joined the Nighthawks because of the great staff they have and how much they care about a person’s character. Also, the support from the community has been amazing and I can’t wait to get the season started and compete in front of all the fans!”

FINES

Chris Fines was born in Winnipeg but grew up in a small town just north of the city called Balmoral. He started hockey at the early age of five but didn’t decide to make the full-time switch to goalie until he was 12 years old.

After coming up through the Interlake Lightning AAA program, Fines

has spent the past two seasons in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers. This past 2021–22 campaign, Fines finished with a 5–10–1 record in 20 games with a 3.62 goals against average and .892 save percentage.

To date, his favourite moment in hockey was winning his first MJHL game, making 50 saves in the

process for an overtime win.

A multi-sport athlete, Fines also plays a lot of baseball in the summer months.

“I am very excited to join this new organization, and I feel like it will be a very exciting place to play. This is the place where I wanted to go, and I feel that I have a lot left to prove.”

Gavin Gunderson was born and raised in Roseau, Minnesota, where he has played high school hockey for the last four years.

Gunderson is quick to point out the major rivalry that exists between

Roseau and Warroad, two small towns along the Manitoba/Minnesota border. He cites his favourite

moment in hockey as beating the Warroad Warriors in his sophomore year of high school.

“It is the biggest rivalry in the state of Minnesota for high school hockey. The rinks are packed to the

top every game we play each other.”

After scoring 46 points in 27 games with Roseau High School

in his senior year, Gunderson is now excited to take his game to the next level in the MJHL with the Nighthawks.

“Signing with the Nighthawks was important for me because I felt like it was a great spot for me to develop my game. I’m very excited!”

Levi Hall was born in Edmonton and raised in Stony Plain, Alberta. He is the grandson of legendary Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall, who won three Vezina Trophies and played in 502 consecutive NHL games, a record that will almost certainly never be broken.

“With my grandpa being Glenn Hall, it was pretty much put upon me

to play hockey and only a matter of time to be a goalie and follow in my grandpa’s footsteps.”

Hall’s favourite memory about hockey so far came during his team’s playoff run in Bantam AAA. They were underdogs the whole way but found a way to make it to the finals.

He spent the last season tending goal in the KIJHL with the Golden

Rockets before joining the Niverville Nighthawks.

“Joining the Nighthawks organization this season is pretty exciting. Obviously as a new team, the spotlight will be there, and that makes it that much more fun. Joining the Nighthawks was pretty important to me as I was looking to get back into the Junior A ranks.”

BORN | APR. 8, 2004

AGE | 18

HEIGHT | 5’ 11”

WEIGHT | 161 LBS

RIGHT

ETHAN KELLY

Ethan Kelly was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan and raised on a farm just outside a nearby small town called Dodsland.

Growing up in rural Saskatchewan, hockey was the main sport

everyone played and Kelly was no different, as he started playing at a very young age.

“My favourite moment in hockey was when I was young. We were in a very competitive tournament in hockey and we won the gold medal game in overtime.”

Kelly has spent the past three

seasons with Prairie Hockey Academy in their U17 and U18 programs before signing with the Nighthawks.

“Joining the Nighthawks was important to me because they were the first Junior A team that showed interest in me and decided to take a chance on me. I am very excited to get the season going and hopefully we have fun winning some games.”

TY KENNET

PLAYER

BORN | MAR. 12, 2004

AGE | 18

HEIGHT | 5’ 7”

WEIGHT | 161 LBS

161

Ty Kennett was born in Crookston, Minnesota but was raised in nearby Red Lake Falls. His dad got him into hockey when he was very little and Kennett went on to play for the local team in Red Lake Falls all the way up

exploded for 44 goals and 49 assists for 93 points in 26 games.

The Nighthawks are certainly hoping that Kennett can keep up his scoring ways this coming season!

Kennett’s favourite hockey memo-

playing with the Nighthawks with his older brother Zak, who is two years his elder.

ry came when he made the Minnesota State Tournament when he was in Peewee. He is looking forward to FORWARD LEFT

BORN | SEP. 24, 2002

until his high school graduation.

ZAK KENNET

Bismarck Bobcats and the Granite City Lumberjacks of the NA3HL. He scored 33 points in 39 games with Granite City.

Kennett fondly remembers beating Kittson County Central in the Section 8A playoffs.

“The coaching staff here welcomed me and really seem to care about my hockey future. I am very excited to get things started, as it should be a fun year!”

future. year!”

Kennett spent the 2021–22 season playing in the NAHL with the

He is now looking forward to playing for the Nighthawks with his younger brother Ty.

“Joining the Nighthawks felt like the right fit for me from the beginning. The support the team gets from a small town reminded me a lot of my hometown and it felt like a place I could really grow as a player. I think the team has looked solid and should be able to compete with anybody in the league.”

BRENDAN KERR

Brendan Kerr was born on August 17, 2002 in Victoria, British Columbia. He lived in Victoria until his first year of Midget hockey, when he moved to Penticton to play for the OHA.

From there, Kerr moved to Saskatchewan to play for the Notre Dame Hounds Midget AAA team for two seasons. He started his junior career with the Cowichan Capitals in

the BCHL and finished that year with the Hounds Junior A club where he has spent the last year and a half.

Now going onto his sixteenth year of playing hockey, Kerr’s favour-

“I’m excited to join the Nighthawks organization because it’s always exciting to join a new club and meet new teammates, and not every day you can be a part of an expansion team in any league. It’s exciting to bring hockey to a small town that is dying to watch their town compete in their provincial Junior league.”

It’s compete

JACK LAMBERT

Jack Lambert was born in Edmonton, but you could say that he grew up around the globe. Throughout his youth, he’s lived in Dubai, California, Texas, and Colorado before moving back to Edmonton at the start of the pandemic. He’s been there ever since.

Lambert started playing hockey at the age of four and continued playing everywhere he moved throughout his

childhood, moving from A to AA and eventually to AAA.

His favourite hockey memory is scoring a hat trick while in Texas. Lambert tied the game late to force overtime. He then ended up scoring the winner in overtime as well, completing the hat trick.

“Joining the Nighthawks is important to me because of the opportunity to better myself on and

BORN | MAY 6, 2004 AGE | 18 HEIGHT | 6’ 2” WEIGHT | 203 LBS POSITION | FORWARD SHOOTS | LEFT PLAYER PROFILE AUTOGRAPH 4 www.nivervillecitizen.com New stories published daily!

Eric Martin was born in Edmonton in 2004. He started playing hockey at the age of four for a local community team in Edmonton and played on the same team until he was 14.

At that time, Martin left to play in the CSSHL. He played two years in Edmonton, and then moved on to Victoria, British Columbia, where he spent the last two seasons.

Martin’s favourite memories in hockey are being able to skate every

winter on the outdoor rink in the backyard his dad built for the family every winter.

In his spare time, Martin likes to spend weekends at the lake, and get a few rounds of golf in. He is also a diehard fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Martin can’t wait to suit up for the Nighthawks this season.

“It is an unbelievable opportunity to join the Nighthawks, and the

JOSH PAULHUS

Josh Paulhus was born and raised in Saskatoon. He started playing hockey when he was four years old and played all his minor hockey years in Saskatoon, finishing with two years on the Saskatoon Contacts Midget

AAA club.

When he was 17, Paulhus started playing junior hockey, spending time with the Humboldt Broncos (SJHL),

Pats (WHL), La Ronge Ice Wolves (SJHL), and most recently the last two seasons in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades.

Paulhus’s favourite moment in hockey to date came when he scored

his first WHL goal in his first game ever with the Regina Pats, as well as when he joined his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

coaches and management made it an easy decision. Being a new team makes it a unique experience as well, and honestly an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Making my way to Niverville for spring camp and seeing the town and meeting the support staff and citizens only added to my excitement for playing for the Nighthawks. I really can’t wait to start the season and wear a Nighthawks jersey and represent our town.”

Carson Reed was born in Roseau, Minnesota in 2004. He was raised in nearby Warroad, which is known to many people as Hockeytown, USA.

The 6’2” defenceman notes the storied rivalry between Warroad and Roseau, two towns located across the U.S. border from each other.

“The rivalry is huge. It’s the pair of games each team marks on

the calendar, especially since we are only 20 miles away from each other. Both Warroad and Roseau are extremely small towns, yet we can still fill up the arena for every matchup.”

Reed has played for Warroad his entire life, starting at the age of seven. His favourite moment in hockey to date is when his team

“I’m really excited to get the season going with the Nighthawks and start a brand-new franchise off on the right path to success. I’m also looking forward to jumping into a larger role, which is important. And

larger role, which is important. And I’m really excited to start the season with this new team.”

won the state championship in his Bantam year.

“I wanted to play for the Nighthawks because they are a new team, and I am excited to show the league what we’ve got. It’s definitely a positive that my family is only an hour and a half away, and hopefully they have enough time to come watch as much as possible.”

Regina

Kennan Reyelts was born and raised in Proctor, Minnesota. He has played hockey since he was four years old and was sort of born into the sport, with both of his parents playing at the college level.

Reyelts’s favourite memory in hockey so far was scoring the overtime game winner to send his team

to the regional tournament back in youth hockey.

He spent the 2021–22 season with Proctor High School in the Minnesota High School hockey circuit, scoring 25 goals and 14 assists for 39 points in 26 games.

“The Nighthawks is a good team in a good league, and the town of

Niverville is a lot like my hometown of Proctor. It’s a small community and we as a team can really bring the community together just like my high school team did back home. I am super excited to get things going this year and it is going to be an awesome season!”

Luke Schaeffer was born in Regina, Saskatechewan and raised on a farm in nearby Odessa. He then went on to play minor hockey in the communities of Odessa, Weyburn, and White City.

Schaeffer split the previous 2021–22 campaign with the PJHL’s

Pilot Butte Storm and SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings. He scored 12 points in 18 games with Pilot Butte and one point in 15 games with Weyburn.

Schaeffer’s favourite hockey memory so far was winning the

Brandon Tournament of Champions with Weyburn.

“Joining the Nighthawks is important to me because they are a new team with a good community. I really want to help them have a great first year. I am very excited to get the season started.”

Carter Spirig was born in Peace River, Alberta in the summer of 2004. He then moved to Fort McMurray at the age of four and lived there for nearly ten years.

He played minor hockey in Fort McMurray and afterward moved to Fort Saskatchewan to play AAA in Bantam, where he went on to be selected as an eighth round (169th

overall) draft pick in the WHL draft to the Winnipeg Ice.

Spirig finished playing minor hockey in Edmonton playing U18AAA with the Canadian Athletic Club. His favourite hockey memories include winning the Unsung Hero Award at the John Reid Memorial Tournament and the league championship the same year in Bantam.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Nighthawks this season because it is an opportunity to be part of building a team from scratch. I can’t wait to start the season and get the chance to play with new teammates and make more lifelong memories. I’m excited to meet our fans and be a part of the Niverville community.”

Brett Tataryn was born in Selkirk, Manitoba in 2003 and was raised in nearby Argyle.

Tataryn played Interlake Lightning AAA for two years of Bantam hockey before moving away for Grades 10–12 at the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy to play in the CSSHL Midget Varsity League.

Last season, Tataryn got his very first taste of life in the MJHL when

he was selected to play for the OCN Blizzard.

The 6’1”, 194-pound forward scored nine goals and 11 assists last season for 20 points in 54 games with 47 penalty minutes.

Among his career highlights to date, Tataryn lists winning the CSSHL championship in 2020 and scoring his first MJHL goal. Away from the rink, Tataryn loves hunting

and being outdoors. He also claims to be a decent cook.

Tataryn is very excited to become a member of the Nighthawks for its inaugural season.

“Joining the Nighthawks is a big deal for me because I was looking for a fresh start and I felt that there was no better option than joining this club. I’m itching to get started this year.”

Ben Whitford was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He has been playing and watching hockey from a very young age.

Whitford came up through the local ranks in the NWCAA program, before spending the recent 2021–22 campaign with the IHA U18 Prep team of the CSSHL, where he scored 21 points in 29 games.

His favourite hockey memory was being a part of an NHL Heritage Classic game in Calgary. A few young Timbits players took to the ice during the intermission and Ben was lucky enough to be one of them. He had a chance to meet a ton of NHL players and was even featured on TV.

“I am so excited to join the Nighthawks because it is not only a big

step for my career, but also a great opportunity to be a part of a tightknit community. Being an expansion team definitely adds a lot of excitement for me. Having the opportunity to be part of a team being built from scratch around a community that’s as excited about the opportunity as the players is definitely special.”

The Nighthawks have a strong leadership team, great players, and a fantastic facility. Now what they need is you.

THE VALUE OF

VOLUNTEERISM

Like any MJHL team, the Nighthawks require a crew of volunteers to make their team successful— and volunteer coordinator Fran Giesbrecht is working to make that happen.

Giesbrecht says that there are many different opportunities for people who want to join the Nighthawks family.

“We have a good network of dedicated and reliable volunteers,” says Giesbrecht. “But we are looking at a season of 30-plus games, so we’re going to need a lot more volunteers.”

The Nighthawks need bartenders, merchandise and 50/50 ticket sellers, security personnel, and hosts.

Each of these positions involve donating time on game days. The commitment is for approximately four to five hours.

Giesbrecht says that she would accept volunteers for even just one game, but ideally the team would like to see people donate time for a few games as there is training involved for each position.

Right now the most pressing need is for bartenders. Serving alcohol in Manitoba requires the completion of the Smart Choices course, so Giesbrecht is looking for volunteers who have already taken the course or who are willing to take it. Smart Choices can be taken online and the team will cover the fees involved.

Most volunteer opportunities with the Nighthawks franchise are for adults, but Giesbrecht says they are trying to find some options for the younger crowd.

“We are looking for things for the under-18 to do, because we want them involved,” she says.

Will Cuccaro wanted to get involved with the Nighthawks and decided to volunteer his services. He’s now on multiple committees and has been impressed with the way the operation has been run.

Cuccaro says that the team wants to be a high-quality organization from the ground up.

“I think it’s well regarded that the Nighthawks wouldn’t be running the kind of operation that they’re running or the kind of operation that they expect to run without volunteers stepping up to help them out,” Cuccaro says. “A Junior team doesn’t have a budget like the Winnipeg Jets to pay for all these roles to exist, so they rely on a dedicated team of volunteers. If you want to execute, and execute with quality and attention to detail… these volunteers are critically important.”

Cuccaro has also been impressed with how much the volunteers’ work and input has been valued. He feels that everyone on the team, from the general manager on down, truly listens to what is being noticed and suggested by the volunteers.

“Decisions are being made by the board of directors with the complete input of the volunteer committee members who are also soliciting information from their volunteers,” Cuccaro says. “For me, what makes it so easy to volunteer is that I don’t feel like my time is being taken from me. I’m putting my time into something that is bigger and better for our community, our kids, our families, for everybody who’s going to travel here to come see the Nighthawks play.”

As for Giesbrecht, she is a volunteer herself and she does the job to give back.

“Our son Justin went through the Junior A program where he was billeted, and we went to his games,” she says. “We saw what it takes to run these games. We’re forever grateful.”

Not only is Giesbrecht the volunteer coordinator, but she has also chosen to welcome two players to stay in her home.

“We just want to pay back, because it’s huge when these parents send their 17- to 20-year-old boys to a community to play hockey. It’s a first step in a hockey career and it’s an important step. I want to give these boys a really great experience in hockey, and hopefully some of their dreams will come true.”

To join the Nighthawks family of volunteers, please reach out to volunteer@mjhlnighthawks.ca

Fran Giesbrecht with her son Justin.

CLUB BLEACHER DESIGN

UPPER OPTION CLUB SPACE

ADDITIONAL 45 CAPACITY

INTERIOR ELEVATION - ICE VIEW

Although the Nighthawks are playing their home games at the CRRC, a spectacular facility with so much to offer, parts of that facility are still very much under construction and still won’t be fully ready to go until next year.

THE KETTLE!

Several next-level improvements, first announced in the spring, are still coming to the CRRC. These improvements are possible due to a $259,032 government grant, the bulk of which is earmarked to create an expanded seated area in the arena.

The grant covers a big chunk of the project’s half-million-dollar cost.

The new seats will span the east side of the arena. This upscale area will face the existing bleachers and provide a night-out-on-the-town kind of feel for Nighthawks games, complete with bistro tables and a bar.

While the funding announcement didn’t come in time to assure completion of the project before the start of the inaugural Nighthawks season, board members of the team now have the green light to kick the project into high gear. They anticipate a full completion of the multi-tiered seating area in time for the 2023–24 campaign.

“There’s a reason that Niverville is the fastest growing community in Manitoba and the fifth fastest in this great country of ours,” says Ron Schuler, local MLA. “It’s because you attract people by offering them things to do.”

Schuler anticipates that the upand-coming thing to do in Niverville for locals and visitors alike will be to check out the CRRC’s arena to watch the Nighthawks in action.

The arena upgrade will bring an additional 373 spots for sitting or standing to watch games. The first section will be similar to the existing bleacher area, only with bar seating that faces the ice and a row of bistro-style tables and chairs behind.

A few steps up will take you to the pub-style seating area, with a full bar which will be open during Nighthawks games and special events.

An even higher level will take you to the club room, thoughtfully

dubbed “The Kettle,” since a kettle is what you’d call a group of nighthawks.

The Kettle is likely to be among the most esteemed seats in the house as the floor area will offer a raised vantage over the ice.

Like a roost, for example.

Once the new section is complete, Trottier says the existing bleacher seating will be viewed as the family-friendly zone. Even so, the new section should not be seen as exclusive in any way.

“It’ll be open for everyone,” says Nighthawks board member Bryan Trottier. “When you come to a Nighthawks game, you get to pick which side you want to be on when you buy your ticket.”

The CRRC also boasts state-ofthe-art dressing rooms behind the bleachers and a Nighthawks team office.

In order to maintain the highest degree of skill in their players, the Nighthawks have partnered with RINK Training Centre, an arena facility in Winnipeg that helps prepare young hockey players to perform at the highest possible level.

PARTNERING WITH RINK TRAINING ACADEMY

Kayden Jarvis, the Nighthawks’ player development coach, is also on staff at RINK Training Academy as their retention and recruitment lead, so he was the perfect person to help facilitate a partnership between the two organizations.

Jarvis has been with RINK for about six years and says he feels lucky that so much of his life revolves around hockey.

“This is a really exciting time, especially to start with a brand-new team,” he says, adding that RINK provides several useful programs for athletes involved in ice sports. “We run year-round hockey programming, and within the RINK family we have: player development, which is for all hockey players both male and female; goalie development; Testify Performance, which is the off-ice side of things; and then we have our RINK Hockey Academy which runs throughout the year.”

Player and goalie development is where the partnership with the Nighthawks comes in.

Kevin Lansard is on the Nighthawks board of directors and he’s in charge of Hockey Operations. He’s also proud of what the partnership can provide for the future careers of the players.

“Imagine you’re from B.C. or Saskatchewan… and you’re sending your kid to play for the Niverville Nighthawks,” Lansard says. “You

want to make sure that he not only has a great coach and great team with a great environment, but also has a great skills coach so that when he leaves that program he’s better than when he started.”

Lansard says that the Nighthawks coaches can provide some of this training, but they are naturally occupied with running the team as a whole.

When the RINK trainers step in, they can be completely focused on player development with no need to deal with the multitude of other moving parts involved in creating and running a successful hockey franchise.

Jarvis and another RINK employee, Tyler Oswald, have been coming out to Niverville regularly to work with the team. Jarvis works on player development and Oswald on goalie development.

“From skating, stick handling, edge work, to the mental part between both ears,” Lansard says, “RINK’s goal is to help these athletes keep improving while they’re here, not just win hockey games. When they’re not on the ice working with their athletes, Jarvis and Oswald are always improving their own skills, too. They’re up to date with the best training… and how to be more efficient and consistent.”

Having RINK staff around is helpful to each player, according to

Lansard. He believes that having more people to lean on and rely on can be a tremendous boon for these athletes.

He also points out that the RINK coaches are often quite young, so they can relate to these young men in that way as well.

The partnership between RINK Training Academy and the Nighthawks is beneficial to all involved. Lansard points out that training the players to RINK’s high standards creates better players, which leads to a better team.

In the future, if and when some Nighthawks move on to higher levels of hockey—or even the NHL—then RINK gets bragging rights about how well they’ve been training players. And then they’ll get more business.

Lansard believes that if the Nighthawks win a lot of games in the next few years but players aren’t moving up to higher levels, then the team is focusing too much on winning and not enough on player development.

The Nighthawks want to win games, of course, but they are also determined to create a team of excellent, well-rounded athletes who represent the community of Niverville and the sport of hockey with pride.

With the incredible team they’ve put together and the guidance of RINK, they appear to be at the beginning of an incredible journey.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CLARENCE

LEAGUE GOVERNOR CHAIR OF THE BOD

BRAUN PRESIDENT

Clarence Braun has lived in Niverville his entire life. He started playing hockey in 1965 on the outdoor rink where the Niverville Community Fellowship Church presently is located, then graduated to playing minor hockey at the Niverville Centennial Arena when it opened in 1967. He also played for the Junior Northstars and the Senior Clippers.

In addition, he played some Junior in Steinbach and tried out for the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1971 and the St. Boniface Saints in 1975. As a lifelong fan of the game, his favourite moment was watching the Winnipeg Jets beat the vaunted Red Army team from Russia in the Winnipeg Arena.

RAYMOND DOWSE

Braun started the Chicken Chef in Niverville in 1980 and sold it in 1986. He was also involved in church leadership at Maranatha Church in Niverville from 1987 to 1994. He then was key to developing the 72-lot subdivision called South Park Estates with some other investors in the mid-1980s.

In 1994, he opened Clare’s Family Restaurant (where Subway is found today) and operated it until 2001.

Braun was elected mayor of Niverville in 1995 and served through 2002.

He was also president of the Niverville Chamber of Commerce for two terms. He then received his real estate license in 2003 and has been

involved in The Highlands development since its inception in 2004.

“When I left council after two terms in 2002, our population was around 2,200 and we were starting to see the growth coming. In 2007, I had my first meeting with the commissioner of the MJHL, Kim Davis. Subsequently I brought my son-inlaw Ray Dowse and my nephew Jeremy Braun into meetings in the following years. This all culminated with the announcement of a new recreational facility back in 2016. From 2016 to 2021, we began to add a few more people to our group and after many meetings we were able to secure a MJHL franchise in June of 2021.”

VICE PRESIDENT

Ray Dowse was born in the St. Boniface neighbourhood of Winnipeg and moved out to a rural property outside Niverville when he was ten years old. He has lived in the area ever since.

Dowse started his young hockey career when he was four years old in Winnipeg and played for Glenwood, Oxford Heights, and East End Wings in Transcona.

When he moved to Niverville, he started to play local minor hockey. Dowse was eventually drafted by the Selkirk Steelers but didn’t make the team that first year, so he came back and played in the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League for the Niverville Clippers where his team

promptly went on to win the league championship.

After that, he stopped playing competitively to focus on school and his career. Since having kids of his own, he has been a minor hockey coach in Niverville.

“My favourite moments in the game have been as a coach, and just watching a team of young kids develop their individual skills and grow an understanding of how success comes from working together as a team. I like to see each of their personalities come together and gel, as the players recognize how they contribute to the team’s success.”

Dowse and his leadership have been big factors in bringing the

Nighthawks to Niverville starting this season.

“I have really appreciated the opportunity to be part of creating something that will make a positive impact at so many levels. Canada continues to be a nation where the game of hockey is intertwined with our identity. To look across a map of the country, many of the towns and communities are recognized by their respective Junior hockey teams. The new MJHL team in Niverville will contribute to the identity of this community, proudly representing this region on a provincial stage, and hopefully someday at the national tournament.”

PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS OWNERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS

FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

JEREMY BRAUN TREASURER

FINANCE / ACCOUNTING CHAIR TEAM MARKETING

Jeremy Braun was born in Winnipeg, lived in Niverville until he was two, moved to Winnipeg again, and then moved back to Niverville when he was 23 for a bit. Afterward he built a home in Winnipeg… but then he moved back to Niverville when he started his family.

Are you keeping up with this game of hot potato?

“I’m probably one of the few board members who didn’t play hockey at a high level. I grew up playing road hockey in the streets of Fort Garry in Winnipeg almost every day after school. It was a vibrant young community, and we would often have 12 to 15 kids playing

LIQUOR AND LOTTERIES CROP PROGRAM

every day. I also went to the local outdoor arena on the weekends, strapped the skates on in the cold, and played pick-up hockey there. Great memories.”

Braun owned a book/gift distribution company in Winnipeg for almost 20 years and sold it in 2016. He’s also had a real estate development company that he started with his dad and brother that has been building homes, condos, and rental properties locally for the past 15 years.

“This has been a journey that I joined Clarence Braun and Ray Dowse to work on about two and half years ago. I’ve been part of this community for the past 18 years.

OWNERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

My kids have grown up here, I’ve coached sports here, we’ve invested here, we love Niverville, and we are grateful for the people and opportunities it has afforded our family. We have great friends here, and we’re now seeing our kids have opportunities to create futures here as well. The chance to work with a dynamic group of local business owners to create a community team is the way to go. It’s been amazing to see our community pull together to create and support the Nighthawks. It’s been a ton of work, but I’m super excited to see our team launch and to start to develop some great rivals throughout the league.”

DYLAN WIENS

SECRETARY & GAME DAY CHAIR TEAM MARKETING

SECRETARY

FUNDRAISING EVENTS & TICKETING SOCIAL MEDIA

Dylan Wiens was born and raised in Niverville and has lived in town for his entire life.

Wiens has been playing hockey since he was four years old. He played minor hockey in Niverville until he was 18 and then proceeded to play in the HTJHL for four years.

Wiens has continued to play hockey in the local Good Time Hockey League in Niverville and plans to play as long as possible.

Wiens is a third-generation owner of Wiens Furniture, a family

business. He’s been working there since he was 14, folding flyers for mailers. He graduated to working in the warehouse and on the delivery truck and then moved his way into sales. Now he co-owns the business with his father and manages the day-to-day operations.

“The opportunity to help bring the Nighthawks to Niverville was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. This community keeps growing, and to have a chance to bring our town together for a common cause

SECURITY FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

seemed like a no-brainer to me. Niverville is a young town and to see my kids and their friends be able to experience MJHL hockey is something I look forward to. I truly believe that this will be more than just hockey, as it will bring more visibility to our town as we strive to become national champions. Not only that, but to show everyone involved in the team that Niverville is a fantastic place to play and to live. I am super pumped to get things started.”

KEVIN

LANSARD DIRECTOR

PLAYER EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS HOCKEY TV AND PRODUCTION

Kevin Lansard was born and raised in the RM of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, where he still resides with his wife and two children.

Shortly after graduating from high school, he started a company called Lansard Computers. He custom-built computers and performed repairs alongside offering network services. He then worked on connecting Ste. Anne residents to the internet, as well as those in surrounding communities.

Not long after this, he purchased Lansard Bros Roofing Ltd., a company founded by his father Leo-Paul and Uncle Roger in 1978. Lansard has since been the president and CEO of the Winnipeg-based company.

Lansard has always been involved in hockey. He played minor hockey in Ste. Anne as well as senior hockey. He has now been running the Senior Aces team for many years. Lansard has been head coach since 2016, and with the help

SCOTT WALLACE DIRECTOR

LEGAL AFFAIRS CHAIR E-FILING AND PROCESS

Scott Wallace was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Île-des-Chênes. He then moved to Niverville in 1999. He grew up playing minor hockey in Île-des-Chênes, usually beating Niverville in the playoffs.

“I was a goalie and played until I was 35. My favourite moments, besides winning, were developing the lifelong friendships with those I played with—and also against.”

Wallace is a senior superintendent with PCL Construction (22 years)

BRYAN TROTTIER

TEAM SPECIAL PROJECTS FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

and has also invested in numerous properties in Niverville.

He’s on the Niverville Chamber of Commerce board of directors, on the board for NHCSI (Niverville Health Care Services Committee), and was on the Clipper Ice Sports board for eight years.

“It was important for the community to be involved. The thought of having a community-owned team is what really got my attention. The fact that the younger generation will

FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

of others the senior team has won four league championships and two provincial championships.

“The opportunity to bring Junior A to the community of Niverville is very exciting for everyone. The most exciting part will be seeing the finished product on opening night. I’m very fortunate to meet new people and create new friendships along the way and thankful for everyone involved.”

Bryan Trottier was born in Winnipeg and spent the first 11 years of his life in Dominion City before moving to Niverville around the age of 12. He has been in town ever since.

Trottier played minor hockey in Niverville, Junior C in Niverville, and Senior in Niverville until he was 35 years old. His favourite hockey moment was either when the Winnipeg

DIRECTOR

PARENT COMMUNICATION FOUNDERS AND LEGACY CLUB

Jets came home or when his team won the CSHL championship.

“I am proud to be part of the Nighthawks organization. It has been a big undertaking, but after seeing it come to fruition and seeing the community get excited about it, it feels like it will all be worth it.”

He adds that he’s always made it a point to support fun activities

have mature hockey players to help in their development is also exciting. In my mind, this investment was never about the monetary return but rather about seeing the results in our own community. At some point, when you become ingrained in a community, you need to give back. This is one way I believe is essential in creating a great synergetic community.”

for kids in town, especially through volunteerism.

“I think the benefits for the kids with the Nighthawks coming to town are immense. And I’ve seen lots of young smiles at the arena already, as I remember how we used to look up to the Senior Clippers as kids. We can only hope this exceeds that.”

HOCKEY OPERATIONS CHAIR TEAM BUDGETING

BILLETING CHAIR TEAM SPECIAL PROJECTS

CARL FAST DIRECTOR

Carl Fast has lived in Niverville his entire life. He has played hockey since he was four and still puts on the skates occasionally at 57 to play in the GTHL. He thinks he’s the oldest player in the league.

“I’ve played in our community hockey program from Atom and finishing in the HTHL and grew up as a rink rat shovelling snow between periods during HTHL games—no Zambonis back then—so I could watch the games for free. All my memories within the hockey world are great, but going to one last Jets

game with my dad before he left this world was the best memory. The smile on his face was priceless.”

Fast and his wife are proud to be owners of a third-generation family business, Wm. Dyck and Sons, that was started by his grandfather and will move into the fourth generation under his son Ryan’s leadership in the future.

“Although I was not involved in any of the hard legwork that brought this team to our community like some of other key board members, I appreciated the opportunity to

TOM KLEYSON DIRECTOR

Tom Kleysen was born in Winnipeg. His grandfather, Harry, founded Kleysen Transport Ltd. in 1935. Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit and involvement with the family business began at a young age. In order to ensure that his knowledge of the industry was diversified, he spent more than three decades working in every aspect of the organization, from mechanic to eventually president and chief operating officer.

Kleysen is a former director of the Winnipeg Blues MJHL hockey team and governor for the MJHL. He was also with the Fort Garry North

Hockey Association (FGNHA) as a coach, team manager, and board member; served on the Twins AA Hockey board of directors; and was coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Falcons AAA Female Hockey program (2011–2013).

Always mindful of giving back to the community during his time with the Winnipeg Blues and the MJHL, Kleyson formed very strong views of what a Junior A hockey team should encompass.

“Firstly, the MJHL must be focused on keeping our good players playing in Manitoba—reducing

become involved as one of the community owners and also serve on the board. I expect that bringing Junior A hockey to Niverville will be exciting for those who enjoy watching young athletes show their skills playing a great game, especially in our new arena. It should provide some very affordable entertainment in our community that everyone can enjoy. Let’s go, Nighthawks! I’m very much looking forward to the first Steinbach/Niverville game.”

expenses for players, increasing revenue for the team, and staying closer to home for further personal development, all while ensuring that Manitoba players, playing in Manitoba, get the opportunity to advance their careers. While only very few players will make a career in the hockey world, the players, through their Junior A experience, learn their discipline of hard work, sacrifice, teamwork, and leadership, enabling them to be successful contributors to our society.”

The Niverville Junior A Hockey Club is a community-owned not-for-profit organization that is proud to represent Niverville and region. Our ultimate objective is to compete at the highest level of Junior A hockey and challenge for the RBC Centennial Cup.

Our commitment as an organization is to develop a culture in which we help players attain their true potential in hockey as well as in life. Our focus is on sportsmanship, teamwork, professionalism, and respect. The ownership group, coaches, staff, players, volunteers, and our corporate partners all actively contribute to the creation of an exceptional environment and sense of community pride.

TEAM COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM BILLETING

FOUNDERS & LEGACY CLUB CONSULTANT TO THE BOARD

ALTERNATE GOVERNOR ALUMNI AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LEAGUE RELATIONS CONSULTANT TO THE BOARD

COACHING STAFF

KELVIN CECH HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

Kelvin Cech was born and raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He played hockey in Sherwood Park and Strathcona County as a kid and moved into coaching after college because someone told him he was a better coach than a player.

After serving as a head coach and assistant coach for some U15 and U18 teams in the Vancouver area, Cech went on to become an assistant coach of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds for three seasons. He later came to Manitoba and was named the head

coach of the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers for the 2019–20 season.

“It was awesome to come in and learn the league here. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I wasn’t able to fully finish a season. But it was phenomenal to get around and meet the different personalities in the MJHL. I love this league, and I love how each team competes hard every single night. It truly is a league where anyone can beat anyone on any given night.”

For his year in Winkler, he was named Coach of the Year.

Now joining the Niverville Nighthawks as the franchise’s first head coach and general manager, Cech has assembled a group of upbeat young men who want to compete every night.

“Our team is being built on character and competitiveness. This is how we’ve gone about the recruiting process. We have looked for those men who have good character, who will be good teammates on and off the ice. It’s important to me because I believe we can search for success in a non-traditional way.”

MIKE MCAULAY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING

Mike McAulay was born in Winnipeg and currently resides in La Salle. He counts his minor hockey days as some of his most cherished, particularly a provincial championship in Stonewall, three Zone Four championships in Carman, and a silver medal in the Western Canadian Championships with the St. Malo Warriors under legendary coach Ralph Collette.

His playing career wrapped up at the University of MinnesotaCrookston, where he considers his career to have come full circle after winning an MCHA championship.

With his scouting team, McAulay was successful in recruiting players

to the MJHL who have gone on to make impressive contributions in their Junior days and beyond.

“I spent three seasons with the Winkler Flyers as their assistant general manager and head scout working alongside a good friend and mentor Jeff Jeanson, who gave me my start in administration and scouting at the Junior A level. It was in Winkler where I also had the chance to work with Coach Cech, so the transition to the Nighthawks has been relatively seamless. It’s a privilege to have an opportunity to be a part of something this special.”

McAulay knows how important it is to express gratitude to the team

off the ice responsible for making Junior A hockey in Niverville a reality.

“It all starts with Clarence Braun, the board of directors, and their adoration for the community of Niverville as well as their big picture vision. It became apparent early in the process that they were committed to building a successful MJHL program in Niverville and I’m proud and honoured to be a part of it. We’re surrounded with outstanding people in all facets of the organization who share that vision and have been working tirelessly to bring it all together.”

TYLER ANDERSON ASSISTANT COACH

Tyler Anderson was born and raised in Niverville. The chance to contribute to the new team and his community is one he’s not taking for granted.

Anderson played for the Eastman Selects when he was growing up and now he gets to help usher in the next wave of young players moving into their junior hockey years.

“I’m looking forward to grow the player development side of the game, especially in young defencemen.”

A defenceman himself, Anderson graduated from Eastman and moved on to Junior A with stops in the SJHL with the Kindersley Klippers and the BCHL with the Prince George Spruce Kings and West Kelowna Warriors, a team with which he won a national championship.

Following Junior hockey, Anderson attended a Washington Capitals development camp before embarking on a Division 1 college career with the Superior State Lakers, a team that won the GLI Cup.

ETHAN MAERTENS-POOLE ASSISTANT COACH

Ethan Maertens-Poole was born in Peace River, Alberta. However, he grew up all over the place, including a 14-month stint in Bangladesh as a kid.

Maertens-Poole has been coaching elite stream hockey for the past six years. In 2019–20, he was the youngest U16AAA head coach in Alberta.

“Last season coaching in the KIJHL with the Golden Rockets. To secure my first win as the acting

head coach, we came back from being down 5–2 with seven minutes left in the game to win 6–5 in a shootout. The most amazing part was seeing the group pull together and play for each other, putting everything on the line for the person next to them. We gained a lot of confidence from that moment so I was a very proud coach.”

He says there were three big things that made it so easy to decide to join the Nighthawks.

KAYDEN JARVIS SKILLS COACH

Kayden Jarvis was born and raised in Winnipeg. He grew up playing minor hockey in the Assiniboine Park Minor Hockey Association (APHA) and later played three seasons with the St. Paul’s Crusaders in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League (WHSHL). In his final year at St. Paul’s, his school won both the City and Provincial Championship.

Jarvis then played two seasons with the Winkler Flyers (MJHL) and was named assistant captain in his second season.

Jarvis currently works with the RINK Training Academy as their Retention and Recruitment Lead, and he just recently become a Hockey Canada-certified skills coach.

Kayden’s younger brother is Seth Jarvis, an NHL centreman with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Once I heard Niverville was getting an MJHL team, and I got to know some of the people involved with the team, I was very excited to get the opportunity to work with and learn from them. As a first-year

“It is awesome to finally have a team here in Niverville. As a local, it’s something I wish we would have had back in my Junior days. I think it will bring the community together and it will be a fun night out on the town for local families. It’s especially important for the younger kids to see this quality of hockey and look up to it. Billets will have a player move in, who will turn into an older brother for the young kids living in the house, and you’ll have a friend for life. This will help put Niverville on the map.”

“Number one, how welcoming the group is from the ownership group down to coaches, to community members. Everyone is rowing in the same direction and are people-first individuals. Number two, the direction Kelvin and co. have started to implement is one that resonates with me. Number three, it’s an amazing opportunity to learn and grow and continue to push for my goal of being a career coach. I am thrilled to get going!”

team, we get to make our mark on the organization and set the foundation for years to come. I was lucky enough to play in this league a couple of years ago and can hopefully relate to what the players are going through and what it takes to be successful. I am excited to see the players and the team develop this year, and hopefully for years to come. I can’t wait for the start of the season.”

CRYSTAL STOTT

HEAD STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Crystal Stott was born and raised in Niverville. She has always loved the game of hockey and has been a fan since she was a kid. She has enjoyed watching her daughters play the sport as well throughout the years.

Stott’s favourite hockey moment was attending the 2005 World Juniors bronze and gold medal games.

The Nighthawks hired Crystal Stott to be the team’s head strength and conditioning coach in the spring

of 2022. Her hiring represented an official partnership between the team and ShopGym, the local facility that Stott owns.

ShopGym has a distinct collegelike atmosphere, which is ideal for Junior A hockey as most players are looking to move on to college hockey in the future.

Stott has owned and operated ShopGym for 12 years and has trained numerous AA and AAA

hockey teams. A certified functional strength and nutrition coach, she has a special focus on hormone health and nutrition for athletic performance.

“To be involved with a team from the ground up is a really big honour,” said Stott. “I am so excited to be able to contribute to the team’s and individual athletes’ success in their inaugural season and I can’t wait to get started.”

TYLER OSWALD GOALTENDING

Tyler Oswald was born and raised in Sanford. He grew up playing minor hockey in the MacDonald hockey system. He played U18AAA as a goaltender for the Pembina Valley Hawks before playing Junior hockey with the Winkler Flyers. His favourite hockey memory was winning the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey Championship with Pembina Valley.

Oswald has been coaching ever since he stopped playing around ten years ago. He coached for GDI in

COACH

Winnipeg for four years before moving to Calgary to pursue a degree in Sports and Recreation Management.

“While in Calgary, I worked for GDI as well as being an assistant/ goalie coach for the Calgary Northstars U18AAA team for three years. After completing my schooling, I moved back to Winnipeg to rejoin RINK Goalie Development, formerly known as GDI.”

Oswald has been at the RINK for over three years now and has been

coaching the RHA U18 prep team as the goalie coach. He has also worked with the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues in 2019–20 as their goalie coach.

“I’m really looking forward to being involved in the inaugural season for the Niverville Nighthawks. Being part of a team in the MJHL is an exciting opportunity for myself. It’s even more of an exciting challenge to be part of growing a brand-new team and culture.”

ROB PAMBRUN PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS SCIENCE COACH

Rob Pambrun was born and raised in Winnipeg. He played AAA hockey for the Winnipeg Warriors and the U18 Winnipeg Wild.

From there, he moved on to playing Junior hockey in the MJHL for the Portage Terriers, the Southeast Blades (now called the Steinbach Pistons), and the Winnipeg Saints (now called the Virden Oil Capitals).

“One of my main goals as a player was to play Junior hockey at a young age. When I managed

to crack the line-up as a teenager, I was extremely proud, and this was hands down my favourite moment in hockey.”

Due to an unforeseen knee injury, Pambrun’s hockey career was cut short.

Since then, he has become a fitness professional a performance and physique specialist, to be exact and he currently owns a global fitness consulting corporation named Team Prep Starz.

“The knowledge and skills I’ve gained in the fitness industry have allowed me to find my way back into the hockey world. The Nighthawks organization values the knowledge and experience that I bring to the table, and I’m extremely excited for this opportunity. As the player development and sports science coach, I’m looking forward to working with all the players and becoming a member of the community.”

LINDSAY UNRAU MARKETING AND

Lindsay Unrau is serving as the team’s marketing and business manager for the inaugural season.

Unrau doesn’t have much experience in the hockey world, aside from cheering on the Winnipeg Jets. Instead her experience is based in the non-profit sector, where she has worked for more than 20 years.

“My experience in leadership is founded in retail, human resources, and marketing. I am a graduate of the Business Administration program

JUSTIN GIESBRECHT

Justin Giesbrecht was born and raised in Niverville. He grew up playing for the Eastman Selects and then played four years of Junior A hockey in the MJHL for the Winkler Flyers and Swan Valley Stampeders, as well as in the SJHL for the Yorkton Terriers.

Giesbrecht played two years at Briercrest College in the ACAC and then some semi-professional hockey

GAIL CHORNOBOY

The team’s billet coordinator, Gail Chornoboy, has been a Nivervillian for life and grew up watching her brother Kurtis Wiebe play for the Niverville Northstars. Chornoboy got into figure-skating as a youngster and did so competitively for many years. She then started to teach figure skating and coached at competitions in Niverville and the surrounding area.

SUB-COMMITTEES

KEVIN DUNN GAME DAY OPERATIONS MATT EXNER GAME DAY OPERATIONS WILL CUCCARO TICKETING/IT

BUSINESS MANAGER

from Red River Polytech and am currently studying at the University of Manitoba. I have spent my entire adult life being passionate and working towards making a difference. Whether that’s taking on local volunteer projects, creating local opportunity through the creation of safe and beneficial programs for kids, or advocating for equality, inclusion, and the value of all people, the goal has always been to make the world a little more inclusive, to enhance

community connection, and to value all the differences and strengths found within our community.”

Unrau can’t wait to get things started in the first Niverville Nighthawks season.

“I look forward to building connections and developing a strong team of volunteers to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for fans. We have so much on the go, and I’m excited for the challenges that come with this thrilling new endeavour.”

PHYSIOTHERAPIST

in the SPHL (Mississippi) and FHL (Connecticut and New York).

“On my return home, I began coaching in the Niverville/Eastman area, coaching the U18 Eastman Selects, and most recently with the U15 Female Eastman Selects team.”

Giesbrecht is excited to be the Nighthawks’ first physiotherapist.

“To me it’s very important to give back to the community that raised

me as a young hockey player. I’m very excited that Niverville has this opportunity to become a Junior A hockey community and put us on the map as a hockey town. I also get the chance to share some of my knowledge, skills, and experiences as a former professional hockey player as well as help with my skills in the medical field as a physiotherapist.”

BILLET COORDINATOR

“I joined the organization because I needed something else to focus on as we are empty nesters and winters are long on the couch! Watching our town grow and change so much over many years, it’s great to see something like a Junior hockey team come together. I feel like it will bring our whole community closer.”

Her favourite moment in hockey would be teaching her son to skate

and how to play hockey. She is now teaching her grandson to skate. And he’s already telling her that she wants to be a Nighthawk one day.

“Niverville has always been an ink spot on a map. People used to say, ‘Where is Niverville?’ And I would say, ‘South of Winnipeg.’ But now we are becoming a bold dot on the map!”

CHRIS LOEPPKY IT

FRAN GIESBRECHT VOLUNTEERS VALDINE BORCHERT ACCOUNTING

JASON HUDSON SECURITY

MICHAEL SALONIUS SPONSORSHIP

JANEL LOEPPKY BOD MINUTES

ESTER & MIKE RAFTIS MERCHANDISE

DUSTIN KRAHN SPECIAL EVENTS/GRAPHICS

SCOUTING

DAN PARR SCOUT

Dan Parr grew up playing minor hockey in Winnipeg, Junior hockey in the MJHL and MMJHL, and Senior hockey in both the Hanover-Tache and South Eastern leagues.

One of his favourite moments was winning the MJHL championship with the Winnipeg South Blues.

“While raising two boys, I started coaching for the MacDonald Hockey Association and taking part in some

regional programs such as Rising Stars and Directors Cup.”

Having coached for ten years, Parr has learned much about the game that he never realized as a player. Watching young athletes develop along the way is where he gets the most satisfaction.

This might be why Parr has been enjoying the transition from coaching to scouting.

KEVIN JEANSON SCOUT

Kevin Jeanson was born in Winnipeg and raised in the St. Claude and Carman area. Jeanson started playing hockey at age two and still gets out once in a while.

He played high school hockey in Carman, AAA Midget in Morden, and Junior College/NCAA Division III down in Crookston, Minnesota. He has worked a few hockey schools

and coached a year of high school hockey in Carman.

Over the last few years, Jeanson has done some scouting for the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers. He enjoys still being involved in the game.

Jeanson’s favourite hockey memory to date was winning a National College Championship with his brother.

“I’m very excited to be a part of this organization in their inaugural season. I came to this team with Mike McAulay and the rest of his scouting group wanting to take on the challenge of building a strong hockey culture and ice a competitive hockey team. I can’t wait for the first puck drop and look forward to finding good character athletes for Coach Kelvin and his bench staff.”

“Joining the Nighthawks organization was very important to me to give back some time to a game that I love so much. I enjoy helping kids achieve their goals on and off the ice and I’m so excited for the town of Niverville. It’s a great community and I just can’t wait for puck drop.”

RAY AGOSTINO SCOUT

Ray Agostino was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and has been in Manitoba since 2000. He played minor and Junior hockey in Thunder Bay (Junior B and USHL) and then his last year of junior in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers.

Agostino has coached hockey for the last 23 years in various age groups from five to 18 (AAA, AA, A1, high school, Rising Stars). He has

recently completed his HP1 hockey certification.

“Making it to city finals or provincial finals is always a memorable moment in my 20 years coaching high school. It’s nice to see players you coached make it all the way into the NHL.”

He has also taught physical education at Dakota Collegiate in Winnipeg for 15 years.

MITCH DAVID SCOUT AND EQUIPMENT MANAGER

Mitch David grew up in Île-desChênes and started playing hockey in his town’s minor hockey program at eight years old. The following year, he became a goalie and has been one ever since.

After his second year of Bantam, he went on to play three years at the AAA level through the U17 and U18 Eastman Selects program. Through those years, he attended two WHL camps with the Prince Albert Raiders and Everett Silvertips.

After U18, David went on to play for the Portage Terriers, Winnipeg South Blues, and Steinbach Pistons

in the MJHL. He then played one and a half seasons with the Charleswood Hawks in the MMJHL, capturing back-to-back championships with a 24–0 playoff record. That record has yet to be broken.

He also captured Playoff MVP and Goaltender of the Year awards in his final season of Junior hockey (2010–11).

David is a current Niverville resident and is very passionate about his town’s newest hockey team.

“Creating a unique and driven culture is crucial to attracting current and new players. Things like team

SCOTT OLIVER SCOUT

Scott Oliver was born in London, Ontario and raised in Winnipeg. He graduated from Kelvin High School in Winnipeg and then attended college at Moorhead State University.

He played youth hockey at Sir John Franklin and for the River Heights Cardinals Junior team. When he stopped playing, he got into coaching and coached high

school hockey in Minnesota and college hockey at the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Among his top accomplishments, Oliver lists winning a state title in 2007 at the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center with Roseau High School. His son Nick played on the team that year and is currently

Agostino is excited at the prospect of helping the expansion Nighthawks this season.

“Staying involved and giving back to the hockey community is very important to me. Getting involved at a higher level, opening doors to more things in the future, and being part of something new right from the start is special as well.”

values and traditions, good billets, having a ton of fans at games, being role models for younger hockey players, a dressing room stall that has your name on it, a solid rink to play in, etc. These are all the little things that make the biggest difference in enjoying your career and make you want to be where you are. As a goaltending scout, I don’t often get to hit the ice with the athletes. But finding individuals who share this aspect of their Junior A career dreams is what I will aim to bring to this organization and the community of Niverville.”

the head coach for the USHL’s Fargo Force.

“I am working with the Niverville Nighthawks to assist in identifying players for the team from the U.S.A., because I want to give back to my former collegiate players who are now working with the team in the MJHL.”

NIGHTHAWKS PUZZLE

BY DEREK BOWMAN

Philosopher Immanuel

Niverville High, for one: Abbr.

Hockey’s Hawerchuk

___ Pig (title character)

Yours, in French

Grp. to call for a tow

Defenceman signed by the Nighthawks

Phobos and Deimos, for Mars

Forward drafted by the Nighthawks

Upper area of the new bleacher system at CRRC

Departure’s opposite: Abbr.

“Sure seems that way”

“Gangnam Style” singer

President of the Nighthawks’ board of directors

Homes away from home for some Nighthawks

Long-running CBS forensic series

Good “Wheel of Fortune” buy for PETE SEEGER or CHEESE WHEEL

Big name in thrift shops

Upper-left keyboard key

Individuals and businesses who originally invested in the Nighthawks’ community ownership model

Take responsibility for

“Negatory,” in Nantes

Unedited, as footage

“Ted Lasso” pub owner

Word in the names of many rappers

“___ all really a blur”

NHL goalie Bishop 69. Nighthawks, in 2022

Hockey commissioner thrilled by the expansion to Niverville

“That’s plain wrong!”

Big ___ Country (Montana nickname)

Etats-___ (America)

Pop icons

Diagnostic scan, for short

Event for Nighthawks prospects

2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th, in Niverville: Abbr.

Head coach and general manager for the Nighthawks

AUTOGRAPHS