Listed on the roster as a defenceman, Rylan Tkachuk sparked the Flin Flon Bombers to victory as a forward.
Playing more than a week after their last game, the Bombers trailed the Notre Dame Hounds in the first period last Saturday, Nov. 12. Head coach Mike Reagan acknowledged he was a little nervous.
Then Tkachuk, a second-year player, scored off a great feed from linemate Tyler Millar on a two-on-one. It was his first SJHL goal, and it knotted the game at 2-2.
The Bombers went on to win 6-4 at the Whitney Forum and improve to 10-7-2-2 on the season.
“I thought that was key to us winning the hockey game. …He is such a popular guy on the team,” Reagan said of Tkachuk. “I think that motivated a lot of guys. It got our bench up. From then on I thought we dominated the game.”
Tkachuk later lit the lamp again for Flin Flon. He said the keys to his offence were working hard in the right areas and gaining help from his teammates.
“Timing is the biggest thing and I had the ability to have scoring opportunities when teammates pass me the puck,” Tkachuk said.
The Bombers have been experimenting with Tkachuk up front. Reagan said Tkachuk possesses really good hands, has a good hockey IQ, and – at 6-foot-6, 250-pounds – is intimidating.
Another factor in Saturday’s win was Rylee Zimmer, who led the Bombers with three points, including two goals.
“He has been really good as of late,” Reagan said. “A lot of guys have. We are scoring a lot of goals. … That is nice to see we are getting guys going.”
Newcomers
The contest against the Hounds saw the debut of two new Bombers: forward Tyler Nyman and goalie Gunnar Nielsen.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Nyman was acquired from the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits for future considerations. Reagan said the 19-year-old, who hails from Circle Pines, Minn., looked good on Saturday.
“He has got a good hockey IQ. He can make some plays. I think he is going to fit in really nice,” Reagan said.
Nielsen is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-1, 175-pound netminder from Maple Ridge, BC. He was 3-5 in nine appearances for the Kindersley Klippers. Last season he saw action in four games for the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL.
The Bombers signed Nielsen last week and released goalie Dakota Delbridge, who hails from California.
Reagan believes Nielsen can help push veteran goalies Zac Robidoux and Brenden Newton.
“He is athletic. He has some Junior A experience,” he said. “He played for a good team in Bonnyville. He played for a coach [Rick Swan] I respect.”
The Bombers are on the road for three games this week. They play in Nipawin on Friday and in Humboldt on Saturday. Flin Flon caps the road trip in Melville on Sunday.
