The streak is over.
The Flin Flon Bombers downed the Notre Dame Hounds, 4-3, on Saturday night to end an eight game losing streak. The victory, which followed a 4-2 loss on Friday to Weyburn, came on Parents/Billets Weekend as the Bombers recognized some of the people who play important roles in their hockey careers.
“This weekend I was really happy with the way the guys played and even the way we practised,” Bombers head coach Mike Reagan said. “We had a great week of practice and the guys really committed to working hard. When you work hard, you get rewarded.”
The Bombers bench boss said the coaching staff challenged its leadership group and they came through. Captain Ben Lanfermann and assistant captain Nick Shumlanski both scored and each had two points against Notre Dame. The Bombers also had goals from rookies Chrystopher Collin and Caleb Moretz. Moretz had three point on the night.
“Caleb has been fantastic for us this year and he is continuing to get better,” Reagan said.
Fellow rookie Niklas Anderson made 20 saves to earn his first Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League victory. The Hounds were able to score three goals in the third period, but Reagan said that Anderson played terrific.
“At the end of the day, we are just extremely happy with the way he played and also getting the win,” the head coach said.
Reagan said that two keys on Saturday night were a high compete level and that the team committed to getting pucks deep.
The Bombers, now 6-8-0-3, face the league-leading Melfort Mustangs (11-3-2-1) in a home-and-home series this week. The Whitney Forum hosts the first game on Wednesday.
“That’s going to be a good challenge,” Reagan said. “That’s going to be the first time we’ve seen Melfort. They’ve obviously got a pretty good team. We are going to have to be ready for them, that’s for sure.”
Flin Flon forward Connor Beebee, who grew up in Dewinton, Alta., was pleased to have his parents be able to make it to the Whitney Forum for Parents/Billets Weekend.
“I think parental support is extremely important,” Beebee said. “Your parents are there from day one cheering you on at 6 am
practice for a Timbits team when you’re five years old, and spending their weekends driving us around to rinks allowing us to play the game we love. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I know for sure I wouldn’t be a junior hockey player without the guidance I was given from them.”
Hockey parents trust billet families to take in their sons and look after them. Billet families do much more than just provide a room and meals. “It’s very important to have a good billet,” said Bomber Tyler Nyman, a Minnesota product and assistant captain who billets with Marty and Joanna Ledoux. “If you aren’t comfortable with your billets, you won’t have a good experience in juniors and it will affect your game on the ice.”
