The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
There was no bite from the defending Anavet Cup champion Yorkton Terriers as they lost 6-3 to the Flin Flon Bombers at the Whitney Forum Tuesday night. Like a puppy still trying to prove it's tough, the Terriers tried to beat the Bombers with their fists, but were unsuccessful. The first tilt started with Bombers forward Mike McKinna defending teammate David Holinaty, who was cross checked into the boards by Chris Cook. Then it was Reid McLeod handling Michael Trebish and then McKinna again, this time setting up an appointment with Cody Devitt prior to the face off. So what did Bombers coach-GM Doug Stokes think of the Terriers' antics? "I don't really want to comment on it. I guess it's frustration," Stokes said. "They're having a bit of a struggle right now." There was no struggle for the Bombers in this game as Dennis Kubat opened the scoring with his fifth of the year, which came on the power-play. His goal was followed up by a chance for rookie Shawn McNulty, who nearly buried a cross crease pass. The Bombers were outshot in the period 15-14, but carried the edge offensively and left with a 2-1 lead. In the second period, Mackenzie Groenewegen and the Terriers' Dion Campbell traded goals. The final period was the difference as Mike Nichol gave the Bombers another solid performance, making 33 saves on 36 shots. Fans felt the Terriers' final goal should have been disallowed as the puck was nowhere to be seen until one last dig by the Terriers put it past the Bomber goalie. Stokes was glad his team won, but he wasn't glowing with joy. "I know as a coach you're never satisfied," he said. "I thought there was areas that we played pretty well in. I thought we did a better job of going to the net offensively. I thought we attacked with a little more speed offensively. I thought our power play was a little more efficient getting pucks to the net (the power play went 2-8). "I thought we were a little loose defensively at times, especially in the first period," Stokes continued. "I thought our ice positioning without the puck was not very good at all. It got better as the game went on. I'm happy that we won. Satisfied Ð never. Never satisfied until you got a ring on your finger." With the Bombers scoring six goals, one came from Braden Olszewski, who snapped a nine-game goal-less drought while rookie Chris Pache got his first SJHL goal. See 'McCullough' P.# Con't from P.# "It felt really good, actually. It took a little while, but I finally got it," Pache said. "I felt a lot of pressure. I wanted to be a goal scorer, but 10 games in and I didn't score, I was kind of getting worried." Pache admitted that the SJHL is a harder league to score in compared to the Keystone Junior Hockey league. "I thought I'd be able to score just like I did back then," he explained. "Hard work will get you goals, it will come." His goal came from a nice setup from McNulty, who fed the puck through the crease and Pache just had to tap it in. Also getting beat up with the Terriers was former Bombers captain Blake McCullough, who made his return after going against his word when he said he wouldn't leave the team upon being taken off a card. No place was safe for McCullough, who took took verbal jabs from fans for his inability to stick with the BCHL's Langley Chiefs. Fans continuously asked McCullough where his scholarship is while saying he "sucks." The Terriers defenceman was given a cold welcome back by his former teammates, who hit him hard, especially Groenewegen, standing him up at the blueline. That pleased the Bomber faithful. The Bombers now face the Notre Dame Hounds tonight at the Whitney Forum and the Humboldt Broncos tomorrow. Victories in both games would push the Bombers to a 6-6 record and extend their winning streak to four games.
