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Photo Credit: Ice Wave Media

Hoffman’s Hat Trick Helps Pistons Clip Nighthawks To Close Out 2024

Content Provided By: Steinbach Online

 

 

Grady Hoffman scored once in the second period and twice in the third including an empty netter that helped seal a 6-3 win for the Steinbach Pistons over the Niverville Nighthawks on Tuesday night, the final game of 2024.

Coming off the Christmas break, both teams had some extra jump in their step and it did not take long for the rivalry to ramp right back up.

In the first period, both teams showed off their speed, their tenacity and what makes them dangerous. For Steinbach, it was forcing turnovers in the defensive zone, earning several chances with their hard work and ability to strip pucks from the Nighthawks. For Niverville, they displayed their dangerous counter attack, using their speed to wheel into the offensive zone for chances on net.

Both goalies, Christian Green for Steinbach and Austin Dubinsky for Niverville were tested but both stood their ground, making several big saves.

The energy level picked up thanks to physical play.

Jamie Fuchs caught Bryce Warkentine with a massive hit right at the Pistons blueline. It was a massive collision lead by Fuchs but Warkentine, a tough customer himself, popped right back up after taking the hit.

Later in the first, the Nighthawks tried to break into the Pistons zone but an entry pass ended up going behind a streaking forward and that allowed the Pistons to break it up and head out the other way. Mathis Laplante chipped a puck into the middle and it managed to find Fuchs who broke in with Jackson Kostiuk on a 2 on 1. Fuchs used the presence of Kostiuk as a distraction before ripping home his 16th of the year to make it 1-0.

In the second, Hoffman would score his first of the night after a broken play resulted in Connor Paronuzzi tipping a puck up to the blueline for the waiting Spencer Penner. Penner put one on goal and while it was blocked, if eventually found the stick of Hoffman who made no mistake scoring his 4th of the year to make it 2-0 Steinbach.

Niverville would respond later in the period after the teams took penalties to bring play to 4 on 4. Newcomer to the Niverville lineup Sean Williams made an immediate impact, helping set up Avery Laliberte who hammered home his 6th of the year to cut the lead to 2-1. Hayden Wheddon also picked up an assist on the Nighthawks first goal of the night.

Less than two minutes later, it would be Fuchs factoring in again as the 20-year-old BC product outworked the Nighthawks below the goal line and after he freed up the puck, he dished a perfect saucer pass to a wide open Ryan McDonald who potted his 7th of the season, restoring Steinbach’s two-goal lead at 4-2. Penner would get his second assist on the night as the 20-year-old started the play by dumping the puck into the offensive zone so Fuchs could go to work.

Refusing to go away, the Nighthawks would score on a power play before the period was through. Williams, who picked up his first point as a Nighthawks earlier in the frame, sifted a puck through traffic from the point and found the back of the net for his first of the year. A special moment for the 20-year-old who had a number of supporters in the crowd.

That late goal cut the lead to 3-2 heading into the third period.

Niverville looked as though they’d have a glorious chance to tie the game on yet another power play but it was Hoffman turning the tables. It started with Luke Bogart breaking up a Nighthawks entry and rimming the puck around for Sam Noad to chip out of the zone. Hoffman was right there to take the puck and streaking in on his off side, the right handed showstopper uncorked a perfect shot that clanked the post and in for his second of the game and 5th of the year, putting the Pistons back up 4-2.

Adam Vigfusson, the Nighthawks leading scorer would make it a one-goal game once again as the sniper walked into the Pistons zone and wired a perfect shot top shelf for his 21st goal of the season. Merik Boles picked up the lone assist.

4-3 would be as close as Niverville would get.

Later in the third on a power play of their own, Steinbach worked the puck around as Paronuzzi fed a pass to the blueline for Noah Szabo. Szabo hesitated and took enough off the shot to make sure it got through to a waiting Brayden Berg who was parked out front and tipped the puck perfectly to make it 5-3. For Berg, it was his 12th of the year giving him a new career high in goals.

With the net empty, Hoffman finished off his hattrick by scoring his 6th of the season with Paronuzzi capping off a 3 assist night with the only helper.

Christian Green was solid all game long but one of his toughest saves came in the final seconds as the Nighthawks put a shot toward the goal from the point that hit off a Pistons defender in front but Green was ready for it and made the save. “I figured with all the shots getting deflected recently, I might as well lean a little just in case and I was right”, Green joked after the game.

The 20-year-old Green finished with 29 saves while Dubinsky stopped 31 for Niverville in the loss.

Steinbach’s power play was listed as going 1-4 while the penalty kill was 5-6.

Steinbach will have a few days before their next game as they’ll welcome in the Virden Oil Capitals to La Broquerie Saturday night.

Niverville also has a few days between games. Their next action comes Friday when they welcome in the Selkirk Steelers.