Make it a dozen.
The Bombers extended their winning streak to 12 with a tight 3-2 win over Melville on parents' weekend.
In front of family members near and far, the Bombers took the lead midway through the first, when Carter Anderson capitalized on a Melville turnover, cut through traffic and beat William Dyke high glove. Not long after, Anthony Piccininno got in on the act, firing in a wrister that hit a defender's stick and went over Dyke's glove from 60 feet out, giving Flin Flon a 2-0 lead.
Melville would make their own debut on the scoresheet on a peculiar bounce - Melville defender Matt Kjemhus took a hack at a puck going out of the zone, which bounced off a stanchion in the corner, came back toward the net and hopped toward Harmon Laser-Hume. Forward Zach Bansley got a tip on the puck and got credit for the goal, leading to the Bombers' lead dropping to 2-1 after one period.
The Bombers extended the lead early in the second, with Alexi Sylvestre stealing another failed clearing attempt by the Mils, dangling out a defender and putting it through Dyke's five-hole. Melville would then capitalize on a rare defensive goof-up by Cole Tanchuk, with Luc Bydal stripping the puck from him and beating Laser-Hume, making it 3-2. While the Bombers outshot the Mils 35-16 after 40 minutes, Flin Flon were not free and clear entering the third.
The third started even, with the Bombers taking time to get going in the offensive zone, but the home team managed to keep high-danger chances out of Laser-Hume's kitchen.
Controversy erupted in the third period, when Dawson Karol broke into the Mils' zone, almost scored a goal-of-the-season candidate before being shoved by Melville's Boston Harkness into Dyke, knocking down the goalie. Dyke was down on the ice - no penalty was called, despite Melville coach Doug Johnson blowing a gasket at the officials. Shortly after, Karol would drop the mitts when Kjemhus - despite giving up two inches in height, Karol landed the balance of punches in a spirited draw, then pumped up the Whitney Forum crowd following the fight.
Melville fought to get back in the game, pulling Dyke with two minutes to go, but could not generate any offence, giving the Bombers two more points. Laser-Hume made 22 saves on the night, while Dyke stopped 40 shots.
The Bombers have now won each of their last 12 games and have at least one point in each of their 14 games this season, sporting a 13-0-1-0 record and 27 of a possible 28 points. Those 27 points put the Bombers first in the SJHL standings, six points clear of second-place Humboldt and seven points clear of third-place Melfort.
The Bombers and Millionaires will face off again at the Whitney Forum Saturday night. Following that, the Bombers will face Melfort at the Whitney Forum Nov. 2 before a week and a half off of action, leading into the SJHL Showcase in Warman Nov. 13-14.
