The Pembina Valley Hawks are off to a solid start in the 2025/2026 season, boasting a 4-3-1 record through their first eight games. The team has been dominant offensively, tallying 42 goals while conceding 34.
Hawks Head Coach Jeff Andrews is pleased with his team’s early performance and discipline, stating:
“Overall, I’ve liked how we’ve handled the pressure of having the mentality of playing our style of hockey rather than forcing things during games that we don’t necessarily need to be doing.”
Veteran leadership and high-end skill have been on full display in the early going. Kamloops Blazers prospect Cole Secord has been electric, posting 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points. He’s been complemented perfectly by linemate and Winkler Flyers prospect Carson Hiebert, who has matched him with 10 goals and 11 assists for his own 21-point tally.
The defensive corps has also stepped up in a big way offensively. Swan Valley Stampeders prospect Casey Magarrell leads the blue line with 9 points, while Paxton White — a dual prospect of the Winkler Flyers and Edmonton Oil Kings — has chipped in with 6 points, adding valuable production from the back end.
Adding even more firepower, the Hawks recently welcomed back Ty Pethybridge, a Portage Terriers prospect from Carman. Pethybridge wasted no time making an impact, recording 3 goals and 3 assists in just his first three games of the season.
Leadership Group Announced
The Hawks also unveiled their leadership group for the season:
Captain: Ragnar Gillis
Alternate Captains: Parker Henderson, Casey Magarrell, Paxton White, Cole Secord
Crucial Stretch Ahead
Looking ahead, the Hawks face a challenging stretch of games against teams currently sitting in playoff positions. That begins with a return home for a three-game stand, hosting the Wild, Thistles, and Cougars before wrapping up the month with a rematch against the Wild in Winnipeg on October 29.
Captain Ragnar Gillis shared his thoughts on the upcoming schedule:
“I think that we have a chance to really separate ourselves from teams that are chasing us. It’ll be a good opportunity for us to showcase that Wednesday against a really good Wild team that has lost 1 game thus far. We know they’ll bring their best, and we know we’ll have to bring ours to get a win on the road.”
With momentum, depth, and leadership on their side, the Hawks look ready to make a statement as the season heats up.