Jason La Rose
For the first three seasons of their existence, the Niverville Nighthawks performed like you would expect an expansion team to perform—middle-of-the-pack finishes, early playoff exits.
Then came Year 4.
The Nighthawks were simply dominant in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) this year, winning 51 of 58 games in the regular season (the first team to reach 50 victories since the Portage Terriers in 2015-16) before a 12-1 playoff run clinched their first MJHL championship and a place at the 2026 Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons.
Niverville scored more goals than any other MJHL team (280). It allowed fewer (117). It had the No. 1 power play (27.3%) and the No. 3 penalty kill (84.5%).
Among the 116 teams that make up the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), the Nighthawks had the second-best win percentage (.879), second-best goals-against per game (2.02), third-best goal differential (+163) and seventh-best goals per game (4.83).
This is a very, very good hockey team.
Up front, Hayden Wheddon led the MJHL in scoring with 90 points (36-54—90) in 57 games, and the duo of Ben Chornomydz (1.50 GAA, .942 SV%) and Austin Dubinsky (2.18 GAA, .931 SV%) were first and third, respectively, in goals-against average, and first and second in save percentage.
Dubinsky was lights-out in the playoffs, fashioning a 1.31 goals-against average and a ridiculous .956 save percentage with three shutouts across his 13 starts, while captain Adam Vigfusson took the reins offensively with 19 points (10-9—19).
The Nighthawks—who had gone out in the quarterfinals in each of their first three seasons—made quick work of the postseason, allowing more than two goals just twice and outscoring their opposition 53-18.
Manitoba teams have reached the quarterfinals at three of the four tournaments in the 10-team era (since 2022), but only one—the 2022 Dauphin Kings—has gone as far as the semifinals.
HOW THEY GOT TO SUMMERSIDE
Manitoba Junior Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Winkler Flyers 4-0 (8-2, 2-1, 3-2, 4-0) Semifinal: defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-1 (2-1, 1-3, 4-2, 3-0, 7-0) Final: defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-0 (4-1, 3-1, 6-3, 6-2)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 51-6-1 (1st in MJHL) Goals for: 280 (1st in MJHL) Goals against: 117 (1st in MJHL) Power play: 67 for 245 (27.3% – 1st in MJHL) Penalty killing: 158 of 187 (84.5% – 3rd in MJHL) Longest winning streak: 16 (Oct. 15-Dec. 2)
Top 3 scorers: • Hayden Wheddon (36G 54A 90P – 1st in MJHL) • Merik Boles (25G 48A 73P – 5th in MJHL) • Adam Vigfusson (26G 35A 61P – 11th in MJHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 12-1 Goals for: 53 Goals against: 18 Power play: 16 for 60 (26.7%) Penalty killing: 40 of 42 (95.2%)
Top 3 scorers: • Adam Vigfusson (10G 9A 19P) • Merik Boles (5G 9A 14P) • Hayden Wheddon (3G 11A 14P)
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
First appearance
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
Merik Boles – University of Regina (2026-27) Adam Vigfusson – York University (2026-27)
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
Sept. 29 – Honourable Mention Oct. 6 – 5th Oct. 13 – 10th Oct. 20 – 4th Oct. 27 – 3rd Nov. 3 – 3rd Nov. 10 – 2nd Nov. 17 – 2nd Nov. 24 – 2nd Dec. 1 – 2nd Dec. 8 – 1st Dec. 15 – 3rd Dec. 22 – 2nd Jan. 5 – 2nd Jan. 12 – 2nd Jan. 19 – 2nd Jan. 26 – 2nd Feb. 2 – 2nd Feb. 9 – 2nd Feb. 16 – 2nd Feb. 23 – 2nd March 2 – 2nd March 9 – 2nd