Three members of the Flin Flon Bombers have returned from the World Junior A Challenge with memories to last a lifetime – and experiences they believe will help their team.
Bombers head coach Mike Reagan, forward Brandon Lesko and defenceman Cory Thomas helped Team Canada West finish fifth in Bonnyville, Alta. The prestigious event featured two Canadian hockey teams and four international squads.
“Both players are going to gain confidence from this experience, which is going to help the Bombers,” Reagan said. “I think they learned how to do things at a quicker pace.”
Reagan said the experience also benefitted him. Last season he was the “eye in the sky” as an assistant coach when Team Canada West won gold. This time around he was an assistant on the bench.
“The second time was great,” Reagan said. “I think the experience on the bench was the most rewarding and being able to work with such high-end players. I think that everyone involved will benefit from the experience. It makes everyone better when you are pushed to be better by playing and coaching with the elite.”
Reagan was pleased with the performance of both Bombers, who are in their 18-year-old seasons, at the event.
“Cory and Brandon played great and did their jobs,” Reagan said. “I thought that Lesko was one of the most physical forwards we had and did a good job of getting two or three pucks to the net per game. Cory was fantastic in his shutdown role and on the penalty kill.”
Team Canada West claimed fifth place with a 5-3 victory over Switzerland. Canada West got off to a strong start with three goals in the first period and added two more in the third.
“It definitely felt good finishing the tournament with a win,” Thomas said. “We didn’t finish where we wanted to, but that’s how tournaments like that work. The loss in the quarterfinals was the difference between playing for a medal and playing for fifth.”
Canada West started the WJAC with a dominant 6-2 win over Switzerland. They then lost 5-3 to Russia. This set up the quarterfinal matchup with the Czech Republic. The Czechs scored with just seconds left to tie things up, then netted the lone goal in the shootout as Canada West fell 2-1.
Reagan emphasized that in a tournament like the WJAC there is a fine line between winning and losing. He said the Canada West felt confident it could win the event. Canada West beat the US squad – 6-5 in overtime in exhibition play.
That team went on to win the tournament so, Reagan said, “we know we were right there.”
“It was a lot faster than what I’m used to playing,” Lesko said. “The competition was really good. There were a lot of good teams and anyone could win on any night.”
Playing teams from Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Russia was definitely a unique experience.
“Playing different international teams was a lot different,” Thomas said. “The European teams are really quick and shifty, so you always have to be on your toes because it’s a different game than here in the SJHL.”
Lesko said the WJAC “was an unreal experience and I was honoured to represent my country.”
“Just the overall experience was great,” Thomas said. “It’s always nice playing with new teammates, especially some of the top players in western Canada.”
He was also pleased to have Lesko on the team with him.
“I’m glad I was able to share that experience with a good friend, and it was something I’ll always be able to look back on,” Thomas said.
