This past week I came across Stephen Cole’s new book, Hockey Night Fever: Mullets, Mayhem and the Game’s Coming of Age in the 1970s.
As the title suggests, it’s a collection of stories about some of the toughest players in one of the harshest decades the game has seen.
The very first thing I did was flip to the back and check the appendix for Flin Flon references. There were two.
I don’t want to spoil the book for you, but I would definitely recommend adding it to your Christmas wish list if you are a hockey fan.
I’m summarizing, but you will want to flip to the story describing the time Paddy Ginnell put yellow police tape around the visitor’s box at the Whitney Forum, signifying the massacre that was about to take place.
Now I wasn’t around to witness it, but I’m told that the “Flin Flon flu” was a real thing. Visiting players were terrified of playing at the Whitney, and they used to look for any excuse not to be in the line-up.
The Bombers weren’t always the best team in the league, but they were unquestionably the toughest to play against.
While we won’t likely see the Whitney Forum return to the torture chamber it once was for visiting teams, the Bombers of today could take a page or two out of the playbook from the Bombers of the ’60s and ’70s.
The Bombers need to be a tough team to play against. If a team is going to come into your barn and take away two points, you better make sure they paid the price for it.
A team that is outmatched can still win hockey games. You just have to work harder for it.
The current Bombers have a lot of talent, but there is always going to be a more talented team out there.
Right now the Bombers are a middle-of-the-pack team, and closer to the bottom of that pack than the top. But even middle-of-the-pack teams win championships.
The Bombers have been playing some pretty good hockey lately. In their last 10 games, they have won more than they have lost, and have brought their record above .500.
Last weekend, the Flin Flon lit up their opponents like a Christmas tree, scoring 14 goals over two games. Zac Robideaux pitched a shutout against the Hawks 6-0 and on Saturday Brenden Newton backstopped the Bombers to an 8-3 drubbing of the Bruins.
Alex Smith picked up Player of the Week honours, putting up a goal and five assists, and Josh Hayward scored three times to earn the SJHL Rookie of the Week award.
Clearly there are a lot of positive things happening in the Bomber organization. If you don’t believe me, go check it out for yourself this weekend as the Terriers and Millionaires both make stops at the Whitney Forum.
