The Bombers are one win away from a series victory, beating Humboldt 1-0 Friday night.
In front of 1,541 screaming fans, Flin Flon shut out the SJHL's second seed and went up 3-0 in the series. The Bombers will have a chance to book a ticket to the SJHL finals Saturday night by winning Game 4, to be played in the Whitney Forum.
The game was a back-and-forth, evenly matched affair, with both teams exchanging chances. Netminders Cal Schell and Rayce Ramsay proved mostly up to the task when called upon, with Ramsay making his presence felt early by stopping an otherwise sure goal with a fabulous glove save.
A two-on-one in the first period got the Bombers on the board. Jacob Vockler burst into the zone with Matt Raymond adjacent, with a pinpoint pass and a quick shot by Raymond beating Ramsay and getting the Bombers on the board.
Big saves, hits, penalty kills and defensive plays ruled the roost, as despite dozens of chances for both teams, the remaining 45 minutes of the game went by with no other goals. With Ramsay pulled late in the third, Drew Kuzma almost found the empty net, but the puck went wide.
Schell earned yet another shutout - his first of the playoffs and eighth overall this year - with a 33 save performance, while Ramsay made 37 saves.
The Bombers have not cleared the 1,500 fan mark in the Whitney Forum since an 11-0 rout of the La Ronge Ice Wolves way back on Feb. 10, 2017. That game, the Hockey Night in the North game, was a free attendance night, with ticket prices paid for by corporate sponsors. In games where fans paid to attend, the Bombers haven't welcomed that many fans since April 24, 2016 - when the Bombers, in Game 6 of the SJHL final, lost 2-1 to Melfort and lost one of their best chances at a league title.
Whoever wins the series, the opponent they will face is already known. While the Broncos and Bombers went almost a week between playing games - both teams observed a pause in tribute to the anniversary (April 6) of the Broncos' horrific bus crash in 2018 - Estevan and Yorkton kept playing, with the Bruins closing out the Terriers in Games 3 and 4 to end the series in a sweep. The Bruins, who will host the Centennial Cup this year, punched their ticket to the final by beating the Terriers in Yorkton 2-1 Tuesday and 7-2 Thursday.
If Humboldt wins Game 4, Game 5 would be played in Humboldt Tuesday night.
