Both teams came into game one and showed why they were the best teams in their respective provinces putting on a great show for fans from both sides in what finished a 4-3 Nipawin Hawks win over the Steinbach Pistons Friday night.

The Hawks came out strong in the opening period and pushed the pace of play earning an early power play opportunity. Leading scorer Brendan Arnold cashed in for his first of what would be a huge night giving Nipawin a 1-0 lead early.

They continued to pressure and it was Arnold again who drove the net and was originally stopped by Matthew Thiessen but Arnold stuck with the play and batted the puck out of midair without missing a beat, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Steinbach had their chances in the opening period as the line of Drew Worrad, Bradley Schoonbaert and Austin Heidemann were buzzing getting a couple grade-A chances, but were turned away by Declan Hobbs. 

Worrad would break through late in the first as he took a pass from Schoonbaert and shot a wrister glove side to cut the lead to 2-1. 

While the Pistons fans were still buzzing over the goal, the Hawks came in right off the faceoff and regained their two-goal lead when captain Carter Doerksen's wrister fooled Thiessen and made it a 3-1 hockey game heading into the first intermission.

Steinbach found their game in the second period and began to take over control. 

The Pistons inched closer on a power play as a nice passing play between Worrad and Schoonbaert allowed Heidemann to slip into the slot and slide a backhander just over the line to cut the lead to 3-2.

Schoonbaert's great night continued when he scored to cap off a three-point night tying the game up at 3-3 midway through the second period. Worrad also capped off a three-point night with his second assist.

Steinbach had their chances in the second after tying up the game but headed into the intermission tied up 3-3.

In the third, the Pistons looked to gain control and had a few chances including a partial breakaway by Brendan Martin that was turned away by Hobbs to keep it all knotted up.

With just over a minute to go, Arnold slipped by his check and found a loose puck on the side of the goal for his third of the night giving Nipawin a 4-3 lead that they would not give up.

The Nipawin Hawks lead the ANAVET Cup final 1-0 with game 2 set for Saturday night in Steinbach.