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.
It was a tough battle as the Flin Flon Bombers dominated the La Ronge Ice Wolves in Wednesday nightÕs game at the Whitney Forum. While the home Maroon and White scored two goals, it wasnÕt enough as the Ice Wolves scored a late goal in the third to break the tie for a 3-2 win. The first period was scoreless for both teams, but in the third the Bombers stepped up to break the 1-0 lead for the Ice Wolves. Scoring his first goal of the season was Harley Garrioch, who says the goal wasnÕt that big for him. ÒI knew I had it coming, I just couldnÕt bury my chances,Ó says the D-man. Although the Bombers came out with a loss on the scoreboard, assistant coach Clayton Quinn says the game was entertaining. ÒBut entertaining doesnÕt mean a win all the time.Ó Wednesday nightÕs game had the Bombers all over the Ice Wolves, but Garrioch says, Òwe skated well, we just didnÕt have the heart or the motion we usually have.Ó A lack of heart and motion, according to the Cross Lake, MB, native, comes from the team being down. ÒNo one is into it mid-season. WeÕre injured and we have no confidence.Ó But with the regular season coming to an end, Garrioch hopes to see the team pick things up. ÒAnything can happen, but we need to start winning. We need the motion and to get everyone healthy again (for the playoffs.)Ó Wednesday nightÕs game had the teams playing the puck back and forth throughout the first period with no goals and only a few penalties. For the Bombers it was Barrett Penner behind glass for interference, while the Ice Wolves saw three of their players in the box for interference, roughing after the whistle and roughing. Calvin Bartel was in net for the home team as he stopped the five shots he had on net, while the Bombers fired away 10 against Jonathon Jobin in the first period. The second period had some more action as the Ice Wolves broke BartelÕs shutout late into the period, making it 1-0. And although the Bombers werenÕt able to answer back just then, their time would come. Bombers Garrioch and Dennis Kubat were in the box for hooking and slashing as was Ice Wolf Brod Harding for hooking. Bartel had another nine shots come his way, but the Bombers only had six that period. With the score 1-0 for the visiting Ice Wolves, the Bombers came back to the ice with vengeance as they were ready for some puck action. Garrioch, assisted by Cole Wilson and Dominic Martel, tied things up after 5:33 of play. With the score now 1-1, it was up to Dustyn Clegg to break even. And he answered the call as he was fed by David Linsley and Kubat just minutes after GarriochÕs goal. But La Ronge wasnÕt through with scoring as they fired off another one and found the back of the net. Less than three minutes later, Bartel was stumped again as Harding found the back of the net to end the game at 3-2, for La Ronge. Again, penalties were few and far between as the Bombers were called on hooking and goalie interference while La Ronge was given time outs for tripping, goalie interference, high sticking and cross checking. The Ice Wolves only had four shots on net during the third period, but it was the Bombers who spent most of their time shooting at Jobin with another 19 shots on net. But as the team found out, out shooting the opponent doesnÕt always do it. ÒWe always seem to outshoot teams,Ó says assistant coach Quinn, Òwe just canÕt get the puck past the goalie, but just of late.Ó The start of the season had the Bombers out in full force as the team was outshooting and scoring on everything, but Quinn says, now the team is letting in timely goals. See 'Getting' on pg. Continued from pg. ÒWeÕve got eight games left and weÕre fighting for third position in the playoffs. Getting late goals just canÕt happen this late in the year,Ó he says. With January in the past, Quinn says, thatÕs just how they would like to keep it. ÒWe had a lack of confidence. We lost eight of nine games,Ó he says. ÒWe were waiting for it to come to us. When you are struggling, you have to work that much harder to get it.Ó Quinn also adds, that no team moral is going to be up after a month like that, but the team just needs to, Òwork harder and stay positive. ÒWe know weÕre better than 8-9 losses. January couldnÕt have been a worse month, and now we need to get hot,Ó says the assistant coach. Aside from Ògetting hot,Ó he says, the team needs to bring their ÒAÓ game. ÒWeÕve gotta get hot and weÕve gotta get streaking. We just canÕt think about the past,Ó he says. When things are going bad, says Quinn, things donÕt just turn themselves around. ÒYou have to think and work fast.Ó As for the upcoming playoffs, Quinn says, they already know they are in, but they donÕt want to be in the survivor round. If the teams were to go to playoffs today, the Bombers would be up against the Nipawin Hawks. And Quinn says Òif you get a hot Nipawin team or a hot goalie, you could be out.Ó The first, second and third place teams all play the seven game series regardless, and have the opportunity to play again. But itÕs the fourth and fifth place teams that are in a do-or-die situation. ÒIf you are cold going into playoffs, you are going to get beat,Ó Quinn says. And although the regular season is still going on, Quinn says, Òyou have to keep (the playoffs) in mind, but concentrate on getting better,Ó at the same time. The Bombers start the final leg of the race with a game tomorrow night at the Whitney Forum as the team takes on the Weyburn Red Wings.
