The MJHL’s Niverville Nighthawks are 2026 Centennial Cup Champions!

On Sunday May 17th, the Niverville Nighthawks defeated the host Summerside Western Capitals 4-1 in the final to capture the National Junior A Championship. It is just the fourth time in history that a team from Manitoba is the top Junior A team in the country. The Nighthawks join the Portage Terriers (1973, 2014) and Selkirk Steelers (1974) as the only teams from the Keystone Province who have lifted the Centennial Cup,

Niverville defeated the Virden Oil Capitals in a four-game sweep back in April to capture the 2026 Turnbull Cup and punch their ticket to the 2026 Centennial Cup in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. The Nighthawks were perfect in the preliminary round with a record of 4-0 which allowed them to secure first overall in the preliminary standings, also earning them an automatic bye into the semifinals.

In the semi-finals, Niverville defeated the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Toronto Patriots 4-3. The Nighthawks were trailing 3-2 late in the third period when St Adolphe’s Calyb Moore scored to tie the game up. Lorette’s Merik Boles scored the game winner shortly after and the Nighthawks were on their way to the Championship Final.

The Championship game saw Niverville jump out to an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Stonewall’s Hayden Wheddon at the 8:07 mark of the first period. Summerside tied the game up and it was 1-1 after twenty minutes. Wheddon scored his second goal of the game in the second period and the Nighthawks never looked back from there. Marlen Edwards and Tyler Bernier added goals for Niverville, who went on to defeat Summerside 4-1.