This has been one of the most exciting seasons I’ve had the privilege of covering the Flin Flon Bombers.
I remember following the team through some pretty lean years and thinking, “I don’t care if they win, as long as they compete hard each night.”
But I’m not here to talk about the past. I’m excited about the present and the very near future as we hit the home stretch of the 2014-15 season. Winning six in a row, how could you not be excited?
If you were at Saturday’s game against the Hounds, you got to watch the Bombers beat a pretty good team with some of the best talent in the league. On Tuesday, Flin Flon had their way with the Ice Wolves in one of the most spirited battles I’ve seen all year.
The 2014-15 Bombers seem to be getting better each game. They had a setback in December, and no doubt will lose a game or two down the stretch, but right now they are competing each night and finding ways to win.
It was also good to see that the Bombers can play tough when they need to. If Saturday’s game was lacking anything, it was a physical presence in the first period when they Hounds really took to the body early.
On Tuesday, however, a few tweaks to the lineup and a couple of good fisticuffs were just what the doctor ordered. I tip my hat to Tyson Empey and Austin Evans for answering the bell when it rang.
After sitting out for a couple games, Michael Knaub came back with a vengeance and contributed a goal and an assist, as well as mixing it up in the corners when the situation called for it. With the release of Evan Akkerman, I expect Knaub will be called upon a few more times before the season is over.
Before the trade deadline the Bombers added one of the most skilled forwards in Western Canada in Brett Boehm.
I was a little nervous at first, as he didn’t get to see much action at the college level. However, after four games and eight points, it is clear he is on a different level compared most other Junior A players.
Boehm makes everyone around him a better player, and he is clearly giving opposing goaltenders fits as he sets up his linemates for virtual empty-net goals.
Curtis Roach has also made an impact in his four games since joining the team. Although he doesn’t have a point yet, he is gaining confidence with every game and has helped strengthen an already strong blueline.
The newest member of the team, Brett Kitt, also made an immediate impact on his insertion to the lineup on Tuesday, picking up two assists in his first game.
“I think Kitt was real good tonight,” said head coach Mike Reagan after the game. “He didn’t get a lot of ice time in the second period because of the power play and penalty kill, but he probably had six or seven shots on net. He did everything but score tonight. That’s a real positive. As he feels more comfortable with his linemates, I think we’re going to see a lot more out of him.”
Speaking of real good, how about the goaltending duo of Simon Hofley and Adam Beukeboom?
Reminder editor Jonathon Naylor describes them as a “two-headed goaltending beast” in the mould of the Mike Vernon-Chris Osgood tandem that the Detroit Red Wings carried in the 1990s.
I like that. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it seems to be working.
At 20, it makes sense that Beukeboom would get the bulk of the starts. However, Reagan has demonstrated that he isn’t afraid to go with the hot hand, starting Hofley in back-to-back games to end the recent home stand. Their save percentage is nearly identical.
It doesn’t matter which goaltender is in net on any given night – the team is playing with confidence because they know both guys will give them a chance to win.
That makes for some exciting hockey. I encourage you to head out to the Whitney Forum and see for yourself.
