The Bombers opened the SJHL season off with two quick points, beating Melfort 2-0 on home ice.
Flin Flon started the year with the standard production of smoke machines and spotlights for this year's team, including announcements for this season's leadership group - captain Lucas Fry and assistan captains Jaeden Mercier and Cole Duperreault.
The first period was marked by mutual physical play, including several big hits. The Bombers would pick up a prime opportunity halfway through the period on a power play, but were stymied due to several stops by Joel Favreau and three key shot blocks by the Mustangs D. When Melfort got their own power play chance soon after, Bomber goalie Harmon Laser-Hume made his presence known with a spectacular glove save. The game was scoreless after one.
In the second frame, both teams traded penalties and kills, chances and saves. Favreau and Laser-Hume held down their respective forts, despite chances - one opportunity came for Melfort on a 3-on-2, but that was blocked off by both Laser-Hume and defender Cory King, who kept the puck away from the line in the crease. The Forum's shiny new scoreboard showed two bagels after 40 minutes.
Business finally picked up in the third, when Mercier and Duperreault got on a 2-on-1 about five minutes in. Mercier sent a perfectly timed pass to Duperreault, who made no mistake on Favreau, giving the Bombers a 1-0 lead - a lead they'd never give up.
The Mustangs made it interesting late, throwing shot after shot at Laser-Hume and doing a full-court press during a late power play, but the Bombers would kill it all off. Duperreault would end the night with an empty-net goal from way downtown to clinch the game, followed by a Gladiator-esque "Are you not entertained?" prestige at the red line.
Melfort gooned it up following the final whistle, but the visitors were waved away by Fry, Duperreault and the Bomber faithful - according to the SJHL's official game sheet, over 1,000 fans came to see the opener.
Laser-Hume made his mark with a 34-save shutout, putting up a perfect outing in his Bomber debut. Favreau had an almost flawless night 180 feet away, making 29 saves on 30 shots.
The Bombers will play their second game of the year Saturday night in Nipawin.
