How Are the Nipawin Hawks Preparing for the 2026-27 SJHL Season?

Updated

The Nipawin Hawks are using the preseason to evaluate their roster, build chemistry, and adjust to the pace of SJHL hockey ahead of the 2026-27 regular season. Through three exhibition games, the team holds a 1-2 preseason record with two games remaining, with Head Coach and General Manager Tad Kozun overseeing the preparation. The regular season opens at home on September 25 at the Centennial Arena.

Preseason as an Evaluation Window

According to the team's September 9 update, the Hawks are treating every preseason shift as an opportunity to assess players rather than simply chase exhibition results. The 1-2 record reflects a roster still being sorted out, not a finished product.

The stated priorities for the preseason are:

  • Evaluating the roster — deciding which players earn regular-season roles
  • Building chemistry — getting new and returning players used to playing together
  • Preparing for SJHL pace — adjusting to the speed and physicality of the league

With two exhibition games still to play at the time of that update, the evaluation period was not yet closed.

New Additions to the Roster

Two forward signings announced in July point to how the Hawks are shaping their lineup for 2026-27:

Player Position Hometown Previous Team 2025-26 Production
Austin Mori-Goodman Forward Sylvan Lake, Alberta Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA 13G, 22A in 31 games
Gavin Wrathall Forward Chestermere, Alberta Okotoks Oilers U18 AAA 11G, 18A in 22 games

Both are 2008-born players coming out of U18 AAA programs, which fits the preseason theme of integrating younger talent into a junior hockey system.

Off-Ice Preparation: The Farming with the Hawks Project

The organization has also been running a community agricultural initiative alongside its hockey operations. The "Farming with the Hawks" project moved into the final stages of the growing season, with harvest planned for September 22, weather permitting.

Key details from the project updates:

  • In August, Mike Peifer of Ravine Bank Farms donated the use of a swather and his time to swath 55 acres of brome grass.
  • Local producers, businesses, and agricultural partners have supported the project throughout the season.
  • The September 16 update described harvest as the next milestone, contingent on weather.

Season Tickets and Home Opener

The Hawks open the regular season at home on September 25 at the Centennial Arena. Season ticket pricing was structured around an early deadline:

  • Before August 31: $8.33 per game
  • After August 31: $300 per season ticket

What to Watch For

For anyone following the team's preparation, the key indicators are how the final two preseason games shape the roster decisions, how the new U18 AAA signings adapt to SJHL pace, and whether the team carries preseason momentum into the September 25 home opener. The farming project's September 22 harvest date is a separate community milestone worth tracking if you follow the organization beyond hockey.