The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
All-star weekend in Humboldt begins tomorrow, but fans are missing out on one shining star. Flin Flon Bomber forward Dalton Pajak, a native of Black Creek, B.C. was passed over. In fact, he's the only player among the top 15 scorers not in the big show. When you go to events like this, fans want to see the best players in the league playing, but people from Humboldt and those who travel to this Junior A hockey community won't get to see what Bomber fans enjoy on a regular basis. Can anyone provide a legitimate answer as to why a player who is fourth in league scoring with 23 goals not be included on the Itech Conference team? Does it have something to do with the fact that the Flin Flon Bombers have a losing record? Pajak being snubbed from the game isn't the only problem, but may link to the next one regarding the All-Star teams. How is it justified that the Yorkton Terriers have six players on the Sherwood Conference team? There are 20 players on the roster with Terrier players making up for 30 per cent of the team. As great a season as the Terriers are having, do six of their players deserve all-star recognition? Estevan has two while Humboldt has three and they are the bottom feeders in that Conference. Glen Watson, coach of the Battlefords' North Stars and Itech Conference All-Star team, thinks Yorkton has too many. He stated that the teams' successes likely has a lot to do with it. The Itech Conference All-Star team mostly consists of players from La Ronge, Battlefords' and Nipawin. Each of those three have five players. Meanwhile, the Bombers and Kindersley Klippers have one player going. Struggling teams such as Kindersley, Estevan, and Flin Flon still should be represented well if the players deserve it. While hockey is a team game, it's mainly their individual accomplishments that put them in this fun event. Pajak has a right to be playing alongside his teammate Tyler Beachell and joining the company of the SJHL's other great players because he is one. The next time coaches in each conference select teams hopefully they won't over look players like Pajak who deserve the recognition and to play in this fun game. Not being selected is a slap to the face of him and the Bombers organization.
