Which Players Have the Nipawin Hawks Signed for the 2026-27 Season?

Updated

The Nipawin Hawks have announced two signings for the 2026-27 SJHL season, both forwards born in 2008 and both arriving from U18 AAA programs in Alberta. Austin Mori-Goodman, a product of Sylvan Lake, Alberta, and Gavin Wrathall, from Chestermere, Alberta, are the two confirmed additions covered in the team's news updates.

The Two Confirmed Signings

Austin Mori-Goodman — Forward

  • Hometown: Sylvan Lake, Alberta
  • Birth year: 2008
  • Previous team: Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA
  • Last season's stats: 31 games, 13 goals, 22 assists

Mori-Goodman's signing was announced on July 15, 2026. The Hawks described him as joining after "a strong season" with the Red Deer Chiefs, where he finished with 35 points across 31 games.

Gavin Wrathall — Forward

  • Hometown: Chestermere, Alberta
  • Birth year: 2008
  • Previous team: Okotoks Oilers U18 AAA
  • Last season's stats: 22 games, 11 goals, 18 assists

Wrathall's signing was announced on July 10, 2026. In a shorter 22-game season with the Okotoks Oilers, he recorded 29 points, a slightly higher points-per-game rate than Mori-Goodman's.

Comparing the Two Additions

Player Position Hometown Previous Team Games Goals Assists Points
Austin Mori-Goodman Forward Sylvan Lake, AB Red Deer Chiefs U18 AAA 31 13 22 35
Gavin Wrathall Forward Chestermere, AB Okotoks Oilers U18 AAA 22 11 18 29

Both players come from the same development pathway — Alberta U18 AAA — and both are 2008-born, meaning they enter the SJHL at a similar stage of development. The main difference visible in the published numbers is volume: Mori-Goodman played more games, while Wrathall produced at a marginally higher rate per game.

What the Signings Signal About the Roster

The team's preseason coverage notes that the Hawks are "using every shift of the preseason to evaluate their roster, build chemistry and prepare for the pace of SJHL hockey." Through three exhibition games, the Hawks held a 1-2 preseason record with two games remaining, per the September 9, 2026 update.

Adding two young forwards from U18 AAA fits that evaluation phase: both are players the coaching staff can assess in exhibition action before the regular season begins at home on September 25 at the Centennial Arena.

If You Want to Track Further Signings

The signings above are the ones documented in the team's news updates. Roster announcements for the 2026-27 season appear on the Nipawin Hawks website under its news section, where each signing is published individually with the player's background and prior statistics. If additional players are added, they would be expected to appear in the same format — a dedicated announcement per player.