DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Thoughts from the Centennial Cup in P.E.I.

It’s been a whirlwind few days here for me at the Centennial Cup in Summerside, P.E.I. I’m typing this column above the ice surface as the hometown Summerside Capitals appear on their way to clinching a spot in the playoffs, as they lead Thunder Bay 3-0.

Here are some thoughts as I take in a lot of the Junior A National Championships.

NIGHTHAWKS ROLLINGI was a little worried the trip out East wouldn’t be all that fruitful after watching the first game online, with Summerside giving the Nighthawks the most trouble I’ve seen from any team all year.

Two games later and wins over Thunder Bay and Canmore have certainly ended those worries.

New MHV peace pole to spur reflection: historical society

A new display at the Mennonite Heritage Village that aims to prompt visitors to reflect on peace was erected last week.

The “peace post,” presented in partnership with the Eastmenn historical committee and The Rotary Club of South Eastman, was unveiled on May 8.

The white, metal post is inscribed with the message, “May peace prevail on Earth” in French, English, German and Anishinaabe.

Ed Krahn, co-chair of the EastMenn historical committee, hopes having the new peace pole will help spark reflection after people complete the 55-kilometre Peace Trail. The trail runs from the Mennonite’s first landing site on the Red River near Ste Agathe and ends in Steinbach’s Mennonite Heritage Village.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Comparing Montréal’s Jakub Dobeš to Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck

One of the great things about sport is the way it lends itself to all kinds of hypothetical or theoretical debates. Who is the better goal scorer/golfer/quarterback/pitcher/goalie are fun, abstract diversions.

So let’s partake in one now. Who is the better goaltender? Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets or Jakub Dobeš of the Montréal Canadiens.

What makes this debate so much fun is the fact that both sides have strong arguments in their favour.

The “Connor Hellebuyck is better” argument – On one hand, this is a very easy argument to make. Hellebuyck has won two Vezina trophies as the best regular season goalie in the NHL, he won last year’s Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP and he led Team USA to Olympic gold. And he was the main reason why the Jets won the Jennings Trophy two years in a row as the team that allowed the fewest regular-season goals.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1980: Niverville Clippers win first HTHL championship

It was anything but smooth sailing for the Niverville Clippers who were beaten in the HTHL finals four times in the last five years, before clinching their first league championship on the strength of a 9-8 victory over the Mitchell Mohawks in Game Six this year.

The 1979-80 HTHL champs got three goals from Vern Warkentin, a pair from Bert Krahn and singles from the sticks of Wayne Banman, Jules Enns, Vic Warkentin and Ken Doerksen. The Clippers needed every one of those markers, as Mitchell Mohawks did a lot of scoring of their own, and trailed by a margin of just two by the end of 40 minutes.

The Clippers appeared to have the game well in hand, taking an 8-5 lead with a goal two minutes into the third, but the Mohawks fought back to tie the game with three goals in a two minute span.

Vern Warkentin’s third goal of the night gave Niverville a 9-8 win and the HTHL crown, four games to two.

Expansion to champion: Niverville Nighthawks claim Centennial Cup

For just the fourth time in history, the best junior A team in Canada comes from Manitoba. The Niverville Nighthawks joined the Portage Terriers (1973, 2014) and Selkirk Steelers (1974) in lifting the Centennial Cup, defeating the host Summerside Western Capitals 4-1 in the final May 17 in P.E.I.

Niverville began play in the Manitoba Hockey League in 2022, needing just four seasons to go from expansion to national champions.

"Words can't describe the feeling of how proud I am of these young men," head coach Dwight Hirst, who took control of the franchise mid-way through the 2024 season but was involved with the team from the beginning, said after the game.

The Nighthawks took a 2-1 lead into the third period and calmly wound down the clock, with Marlen Edwards nabbing an insurance goal and Tyler Bernier icing the game with an empty netter. Hirst, who is from Lac du Bonnet, said the message to the team after 40 minutes was to break the final period into five minute segments.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Centennial Cup semi-finals

Featuring photos from Niverville vs Toronto and Summerside vs Longueuil.

Niverville and the hosts Summerside won to advance to the final, with puck drop set for 5 p.m. Manitoba-time May 17.

Niverville Nighthawks comeback win punches ticket into Centennial Cup final

Eastman talent took centre stage as the Niverville Nighthawks defeated Ontario Junior Hockey League champions Toronto Patriots 4-3 to advance to the Centennial Cup final. The team came all the way back after trailing 3-0 early in the second period.

Down 3-2 with less than four minutes to go in the third period, St Adolphe's Calyb Moore sniped a shot off the post and in when it looked like a rush chance was fizzling out. A minute later, Lorette's Merik Boles tipped home a point shot for the game winner, as the Nighthawks held on for the semi-final win.

"It was awesome to see Mooresy get in and score, that was a big one for sure," Boles, who was named the most valuable player for the game said afterwards.

"A couple late goals for some Eastman kids, that's exciting."

Denton Mateychuk to wear Maple Leaf once again

For the first time, Denton Mateychuk will suit up for Team Canada at senior international event.

Dominion City’s Mateychuk has represented Canada over the years at U18 and junior events, but got the call to play for Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Switzerland.

The defenseman just finished his second season playing in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring 13 goals and 18 assists across 75 games this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manger Kyle Dubas, who is part of Team Canada’s management group thanked the 23 players for commiting to the tournament, which takes place during the NHL playoffs, right at the end of the season for all of the players.

‘Everything fades away’: Piney officials say cell service gaps hamper emergency response

Lost fire crews, delayed emergency response times and communication black-outs.

Those were just some of the issues that Joel Grenier faced when he battled last year’s wildfires in the Rural Municipality of Piney. He places the blame on the region’s spotty cellular service.

Whenever responding to an emergency call, the Woodridge district fire chief always has cellular service in “the back of our mind.”

“As soon as we leave those areas, then everything fades away. So then we get off the grid I guess at that point,” Grenier said.

Nighthawks prepared for Centennial Cup semi-final against Toronto

A day of rest and relaxation in P.E.I. has the Niverville Nighthawks refreshed and ready to go at the Centennial Cup in Summerside.

The team took a tour around the Island May 14, before a practice just before the start of the quarterfinals the next day. Niverville earned a bye straight to the semi-finals and the right to pick their preferred time slot May 16 after finishing the preliminary round undefeated.

"It was nice to get on the water," head coach Dwight Hirst said just after practice during the first quarterfinal game of the day.

"It's nice to do something other than hockey for a day, just unplug."

Reece Gault selected in first round of USHL draft

Oakbank’s Reece Gault has done something nearly no other Manitoba Junior Hockey League player has done.

The former Steinbach Piston went to the B.C. Hockey League and actually raised his level of play. After a strong rookie campaign with Steinbach in the 2024/2025 season, where the 2007-born defenseman nabbed 37 points in 52 games, he made the trip out west, signing with Victoria.

Unlike most of the players who make the move to the BCHL, Gault thrived with the Grizzlies, leading the team in points by a defenseman with 44. He was tied for third in the league-wide scoring race among all blue-liners, leading all rookies by 18 points across the season.

He was named to the league’s all-rookie team.