After seeing a key player depart at the trade deadline, the Flin Flon Bombers proved this past weekend they can compete with the league’s elite.
At the Jan. 10 deadline, Flin Flon traded 20-year-old Nick Shumlanski, its leading scorer, to the Humboldt Broncos for future considerations that head coach and general manager Mike Reagan feels will help the team next year and in the future. The deadline also saw the Bombers add promising 19-year-old forward Brandson Hein from the Western Hockey League. Forward Jordan Funk opted to return to his home province of British Columbia.
On the weekend, the Bombers battled the defending league champion Battlefords North Stars. As of Sunday, the North Stars had the third best record in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League behind the Nipawin Hawks and Melfort Mustangs. Flin Flon rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime on Friday, but fell 4-3 in a shootout. The next night the Bombers once again found themselves trailing 2-0. They bounced back for a 4-3 victory.
“We are extremely happy with our ability to come back from 2-0 both nights,” Reagan said. “I see a little bit different character right now than earlier on in the season…Guys are playing a little more confident right now. Guys are working together as a team instead of as individuals. I think that is a big reason why we are having success.”
Flin Flon has earned points in seven of its last eight games. The Bombers went 1-1-1-0 last week, including a 3-0 loss to second-place Melfort. Reagan was pleased with the way his squad played against the North Stars.
“I think that overall in both games our effort was very good. Competed hard,” he said. “It took a little bit of time for us to maybe have confidence that we can play with the top teams and a team like Battleford. As the game went on, we saw our team get a little more confident each shift. Once we were able to score you could see on the bench the guys were believing. That goes a long ways.”
Reagan said that the decision to deal Shumlanski was not an easy one. The Tisdale product had been listed with the team since he was 15 and has played games in four seasons for the Bombers. Reagan has praised Shumlanski for playing the “Bomber way” and noted that at age 18 he had the opportunity to leave the SJHL but remained committed to the Bombers.
“It was tough to see him leave our program,” Reagan said. “At the same time, I think it is best for Nick right now with where he’s at. It was best for us too moving forward.”
The general manager said the Bombers could have received a player for this season. However, with the addition of Hein and Tyler Nyman returning from injury, Reagan feels he has players to step into the roles of the departing Shumlanski and Funk.
“It was a matter of getting a good return for Nick for next year,” Reagan said. “I’m pretty confident that the players we are going to get back are going to be guys who really round out our roster nicely.”
At the time of the trade, Shumlanski was leading the Bombers with 39 points, including 12 goals, in 35 games. During his Flin Flon career, Shumlanski, who was an assistant captain this season, piled up 123 points in 155 games. He helped Flin Flon to the SJHL finals the past two seasons. Shumlanski enjoyed his time playing in front of the Whitney Forum faithful.
“The fans in Flin Flon are very loyal and are always showing support no matter what the team is going through,” he said. “I loved the atmosphere in the Whitney. No matter what day it was, it was always just as loud as it was the last time.
“Playing in Flin Flon in the playoffs is something I’ll never forget. It’s not a surprise when you read ‘Welcome to the Zoo.’ I will definitely miss playing for the Bombers. I would like to thank Flin Flon for a great three years!”
At the deadline, Hein was released to the Bombers by the WHL’s Everett (Wash.) Silvertips. In parts of two seasons with the Silvertips, the 6-foot, 195-pound forward had 12 points in 78 games. The Silvertips went to the league’s Western Conference semifinals last season.
“Bringing that experience to our club is going to be big for us,” Reagan said. “Now he is going to get an opportunity to play a role maybe he is more accustomed to from his midget days. Be an offensive guy again.”
In his final midget season, Hein posted 23 goals and 48 points in 33 games for the Winnipeg Thrashers with Nate Hooper as a frequent line mate. The Bombers had both players commit to them in 2016, but Hein earned a spot in the WHL and took on a less offensive role. Reagan noted that the Bombers have had WHL players join them and play big roles. Reagan pointed to hometown product Ryan Fox, the team’s current strength and conditioning coach, who posted 68 points as a 20-year-old and was the team’s captain.
Funk, a 20-year-old forward, decided to return to B.C. He had six points in 11 games with Flin Flon after being acquired from Kindersley earlier this season.
He is now playing junior B for the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
