For the first time in Waywayseecappo Wolverines history, the team will be playing the second round of the Turnbull Cup Playoffs.
Their reward? Playing the #2 team in the country, the Niverville Nighthawks.
The Wolverines will have their hands full against the Nighthawks this round, as they take on a team that has only lost seven games throughout the season.
Both teams will be coming into the series well rested, as they both were able to dust off their opponents in quick fashion. The Nighthawks swept the Winkler Flyers in easy fashion, outscoring them 17-5 in their four games, and only two one goal games. The Wolverines also had a sweep, as they beat the Dauphin Kings in four games, but they had to play a few more minutes to get their four wins, with two overtime wins in Dauphin in Game 1 and Game 3 to give them the short series.
Both teams will enter the second round for the first time, as they both won a first round series for the first time ever. For the Wolverines it had been 27 years, for the Nighthawks, it’s Year 4.
The two teams played four times this season, with the Nighthawks winning all four games. The two closest games were one goal games, as the first game in Niverville was a 2-1 game, and the final game was a 3-2 game after the Nighthawks scored two quick goals in the third period, coming from behind and taking the lead.
Regular Season Series: Niverville 4-0-0-0
November 9, 2025 – Waywayseecappo 1, Niverville 2
December 2, 2025 – Niverville 6, Waywayseecappo 1
February 28, 2026 – Waywayseecappo 2, Waywayseecappo 6
March 3, 2026 – Niverville 3, Waywayseecappo 2
GAME BREAKERS
Waywayseecappo Wolverines: In the first round, the Wolverines were led by the two players that led them in the regular season, as Sebastien Hicks and Ben Roulette both had five points in the first four games. Hicks led the team in goals with four, and Roulette assisted on five goals in the series. Dylan Duzan is the third player on their line, and he put up three goals and an assist as well. On the back end, Kurt Rookes moved there for Game 3 and 4, and will probably start there for Round 2. He had three points, including two goals and is a main fixture on the powerplay and will bring offence from the back end.
Niverville Nighthawks: In the regular season, the Nighthawks were lef by Hayden Wheddon, who led the league with 90 points (36 goals, 54 assists). He only put up a point per game in the first round, with a goal and three assists. Marlen Edwards leads the way with 7 assists in the first round, and had a 1.50 point per game in the season after been acquired at the trade deadline, with 39 points in 26 games. Adam Vigfusson had six points in the series (4 goals, 2 assists) and had a great regular season, putting up 61 points in 40 games, and was on his way to winning the league scoring title before an injury near the end of the season. On the back end, Aaron Krestanowich had six points in four games in the playoffs so far.
GOALTENDING
Waywayseecappo Wolverines: Before the first round series, there was uncertainty on which goaltender the team would use in Game 1, but after choosing Jase Wareham for the start, he kept the net and put on a puck stopping clinic, putting up a .951 save percentage, and 1.63 goals against average, only allowing seven goals in four games. There is no question before this series who will start Game 1 in the second round, but the competition will be tougher against a Nighthawks team that scored the most goals this year with 280, and 17 in the playoffs.
Niverville Nighthawks: The Nighthawks are led by goaltender Austin Dubinsky, the man who won the MJHL’s Goaltender of the Year. In the playoffs, he went 4-0, only allowed five goals, had a .958 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average and one shutout. During the season, he went 34-3-1 with a .931 save percentage and 2.18 goals against average and two shutouts.
X FACTOR:
Waywayseecappo Wolverines: Cole Hunter continued being a playoff performer this year, with two goals and one assist in four games, which included a Game 1 overtime winner. Even though he is on the second line of the team, he will also be part of trying to shut down the top lines for the Nighthawks along with Aidan Herring and Max Collyer. The depth showed up for the Wolverines in the first round, with 15 players putting up a point.
Niverville Nighthawks: John Scott upped his game in the playoffs with four goals and an assist in the first round, after putting up 36 points in 54 games in the regular season. He centres the third line and was with Marlen Edwards and Kole Mears, that all put up at least a point per game. Merik Boles had the second most points on the team in the season, and is part of the top line with Vigfusson and Wheddon, and could put the puck in the net after a slower start to the playoffs with three points.
SERIES SCHEDULE
| Game | Date | Away | Home | Time |
| 1 | Thursday, April 2 | Waywayseecappo | Niverville | 7:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Saturday, April 4 | Niverville | Waywayseecappo | 7:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Monday, April 6 | Waywayseecappo | Niverville | 7:30 p.m. |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 8 | Niverville | Waywayseecappo | 7:30 p.m. |
| 5* | Friday, April 10 | Waywayseecappo | Niverville | 7:30 p.m. |
| 6* | Sunday, April 12 | Niverville | Waywayseecappo | 7:30 p.m. |
| 7* | Tuesday, April 14 | Waywayseecappo | Dauphin | 7:30 p.m. |
