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.
The Bantam 'A' Bombers are preparing for Provincials. The team is made up of a dedicated group of players from Flin Flon, Creighton and Deschambault Lake. The team started the season with a B-side win in Nipawin in November. In December they travelled to Thompson and lost in the A-side final to Thompson. They again faced Thompson in the A-side final in the tournament in The Pas in January and again came up short. The tournament proved to be a costly one, as the team lost three players to injury, and a fourth player was called up to play for the Bantam 'AA' team. See 'Provincials' P.# Con't from P.# The loss of these players really affected the team in the Swan River tournament and they didn't do as well. With Provincials just two weeks away, the team has had to regroup. One of the players is back from injury, and the coaching staff is looking to pick up one or two players before Provincials. To start the season, the team was told that Provincials would be in Dauphin. However, the tournament has been moved to Steinback, a considerable distance further. With five players on the team from Deschambault, the team has had to work hard to stay together, and would probably not have existed without the dedication of the parents who have spent countless hours driving the kids into Flin Flon for both practices and games. Not to mention the extra distance involved in attending the tournaments in Thompson, The Pas, and Swan River. The tournament will run from March 3-5. Traditionally teams have always travelled to Provincials on the Thursday prior as all teams are scheduled to play their first game on Friday. Since Flin Flon's first game isn't until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the parents have opted to leave early Friday morning to save on hotel costs for the extra night. This again takes a huge commitment from the parents for the players from Deschambault Lake to be in Flin Flon for a 6:30 a.m. departure time. Due to the change in venue to Steinbach, the team is hoping to raise enough money to take a bus to Provincials. "We would really like to be able to take a bus because of the distance and safety factor to all of our players, coaches, parents and grandparents," said Treasurer Cindy Rainville. "We are however finding it difficult to be able to make this affordable to our parents even with our fundraising efforts to date." The team is currently looking at ways to make this option viable. Here is a recap of the team's season to date: Nipawin - November 27 & 28 Game 1 - Lost 8-0 to Melfort. Game 2 - Won 3-2 over Tisdale - Goals by Drew Craig, Derrick Beatty and Jason Fehr. Assists by Jason Fehr, Brennan Beatty, Michael Fineday, Drew Craig and Derrick Beatty. Game 3 - B-side Final - Won 4-3 over Prince Albert Buckland Hawks - First two goals scored by Brad Simon assisted by Brennan Beatty and Derrick Beatty, third goal by Derrick Beatty unassisted and winning goal by Drew Craig, assisted by Jason Fehr with 1:57 left in third period. Thompson, December 18 & 19 Game 1 - Beat Gillam 9-2 - Goals by Drew Craig (2), Brady Bouvier, Warren Beatty, Walter Custer, Warner Sewap, Jason Fehr (3). Assists by Brennan Beatty (3), Jason Fehr (2), Drew Craig, Travis Fehr, Jared Ballantyne (3) and Brendan MacFie. Game 2 - 8-4 win over Thompson - Goals by Brennan Beatty (2), Drew Craig, Travis Fehr, Warner Sewap, Jason Fehr (3). Assists to Drew Craig, Brennan Beatty (2), Derrick Beatty (2), Travis Fehr, Warner Sewap, Warren Beatty and Jason Fehr (3). Game 3 - 5-4 win over Split Lake - Goals by Jason Fehr (3), and Brennan Beatty (2) including the winning goal with 55 seconds left in the third period. Assists went to Brennan Beatty (3) and Drew Craig (3). Game 4 - Championship Final - 6-3 loss to Thompson - Goals by Jason Fehr and Brennan Beatty (2). Assists by Carter Whitbread, Drew Craig (2) and Warren Beatty. The Pas, January 15 & 16 Game 1 - 5-4 win over OCN - Goals by Drew Craig, Brennan Beatty and Derrick Beatty (3). Assists by Walter Custer, Brad Simon, Brennan Beatty. Game 2 - 4-3 win over Gillam (stats not available). Game 3 - Lost 3-1 to Thompson. Brad Simon scored unassisted. Championship Final - Lost 6-2 to Thompson - Goals by Brady Bouvier and Walter Custer, with assists by Kyle Erickson, Carter Whitbread and Brendan MacFie. The team is sponsored by Chicken Chef, McKeen's Trucking, Midwest Drilling and Reliance Services. The coaches are Robin Springer and Ray Donaldson.
