Nighthawks part ways with Head Coach and GM Kelvin Cech

The Niverville Nighthawks have made a change relieving Head Coach and General Manager Kelvin Cech of his duties.

Cech was hired in January of 2022, ahead of the Nighthawk's first-ever MJHL season. 

"Kelvin came in and did such great work right off the hop, especially with a brand new organization," said Kevin Pauls, broadcaster for the team. "When there's not a road map in front of you, there's a lot of figuring. He wore a ton of hats, there's a ton of moving parts and he had to find players from across Canada and the US. It was a monumental effort to make the playoffs the first year, packing the house regularly which is no small feat. For Kelvin to have not only managed it all but to succeed while doing it, is very impressive."

The Nighthawks are 23-18-3, good for 4th in the MJHL's MGEU East Division but holding onto that final playoff spot by just 7 points with 14 games remaining in the regular season.

As to why the decision was made now, Pauls believes it came down to results. "I think it boils down to winning. I think the overall goal is not to just make the playoffs but to make an impact. I believe (the Nighthawks board of directors/Hockey Operations) saw things heading in a direction they were not necessarily happy with. They needed to make the call, whether it was now or at the end of the season. By doing it now, they had a chance to make a culture change and they took it."

The plan is to have two coaches in place on an interim basis. Assistant GM and Head Scout Mike McAulay will fill in for the time being and former Eastman coach Dwight Hirst.

"Mike has played an integral part in building this team," explains Pauls. "He has a really good understanding of this group. Before Christmas, he had a first-hand opportunity to see it from the bench (with Cech at the World Junior A Challenge) and I think he relates well with the players. He certainly knows all of them, he has regular communication with them and their families. He's all about helping them grow on the ice and off, so I think he'll transition in just fine."

The outside addition comes with many years of hockey experience and knowledge of the community in Dwight Hirst. "Dwight has been part of the Eastman Selects AAA program," says Pauls, "so he has coaching experience. He is also familiar with some of the players that are local like Merek Boles, Bryce Warkentine, and the likes of Kaycee Coyle. So, it's like he has one foot in the room."

In the mind of Pauls, it's about the here and now, the future will sort itself out in time. "From what I gather, this is an interim procedure until they make a decision down the road. Right now, it's about putting a competitive team on the ice, battling for a playoff spot and if they get into the playoffs, see what happens."

A dedicated volunteer base was some of the first to know as a release was sent out. Pauls says that many took the news hard. "People are going to miss Kelvin. He made a huge mark on this community. It's about people. We had the gala the other night and we all understand it's a group effort. Kelvin was in every part of the organization so yes, there will be some sadness but they're also a pretty energetic group of people who want the team to succeed. They'll throw themselves into what happens next."

On deck for the team is a massive, possibly season-making or breaking stretch where they visit the Winkler Flyers on Wednesday, host the Blizzard on Friday, have the Virden Oil Caps to town on Saturday, and then follow that up with road games against Portage, and Dauphin.

Pauls believes everyone knows how important this stretch is. "The margin for error now is very slim. It's a very tough schedule coming up. Big games against tough opponents. If anything, this is going to be a good thing, to see what everyone is made of. It's the ultimate test. These are teams that the Nighthawks beat before Christmas. So, what has changed from that point on? The team has made improvements since then so there is no reason why they can't find success. I think the harder the test, the better it is for the group. You want to face this head-on and imagine if they do find success, they'll be 10 feet tall and bulletproof."

Having worked with Cech for many years even before their time in Niverville, having Kelvin no longer part of the organization or the community is hard for Pauls. "From day one in Winkler, Kelvin was nothing but kind to not just me, but my daughter Lua. To have her treated with such respect and kindness, which was spearheaded by Kelvin, it meant the world. Getting to see him around the rink, talking hockey, or life is something I'll cherish. He's such a sharp individual with a load of talent, I have no doubt about his success in the future. I'm going to miss Kelvin for sure, he made a huge impact on me and my family."

Under Cech, the Nighthawks had their first-ever franchise win in the regular season and playoffs in their first-ever season. If they're to win their first every playoff round, it will be under new leadership on the bench.