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.
Two solid efforts on the weekend resulted in only two points for the Flin Flon Bombers, as they beat the Weyburn Red Wings 5-3 on Friday night and lost 4-1 to the Humboldt Broncos on Saturday night. Despite an overall lack of intensity on Friday, the Bombers were able to capitalize on a few Weyburn mistakes and hold on for the victory. The Bombers played better on Saturday night, but a hot Humboldt goalie and untimely Flin Flon penalties were key factors in the loss. In Friday's game, the Bombers dominated the first period, scoring three times to take a commanding lead. Stewart Sjoberg scored a goal shortly after leaving the penalty box to give the Bombers the first lead of the hockey game. The goal at 6:17 was assisted by Joey Moggach and Clete Mastad. Andrew Skrabek made it 2-0 at 8:55 with a power-play goal, assisted by David Holinaty and Andrew Leslie. Tyler Beachell had the third Bomber goal at 19:21 with Skrabek and Holinaty picking up the assists. The Red Wings came hard out of the gate in the second period, but could only get one shot to find the back of the net. Brendon Vertefueille scored the goal at 2:27. Mike McKinna restored Flin Flon's three-goal lead at 19:04 of the second period, rifling a shot past goalie Russ Monette. In the third period, the Wings outplayed the Bombers again, coming within one goal of tying the game. Kenny King scored unassisted at 2:25, and then Vertefeuille's second goal of the game at 14:58 made it 4-3, but Blake Rolston's empty net goal at 19:14 put a stop to any thoughts of a Weyburn comeback. Final shots on net were 42-32 in favour of the Wings, including 20-11 in the second period and 14-6 in the third period. The Bombers won the special teams battle, scoring one power-play goal on six chances and holding the Wings scoreless on six tries. On Saturday night, the Bombers put out a better effort, but unlike Friday, the bounces just weren't going their way. Humboldt scored the only goal of the first period on a Blair Wourms shot from the side of the net. Bradey Fidierchuk scored a lucky goal in the second period to tie the game. His backhand shot from the blue line went over Humboldt goaltender Nathan Fischl, who didn't see the puck until it was in the back of the net. The goal was assisted by Richard Dupre and Mike McKinna at 19:02. The Bombers played a strong second period after a sluggish first period, but in the third it was all Humboldt on the scoreboard. Jason Miller scored goals at 8:01 and 13:34, the second during a five-minute power-play advantage. Jeremy McKibbon added Humboldt's fourth goal on the power play at 16:05. It was Humboldt's third goal on three shots in the third period. Humboldt scored two power-play goals on seven chances, while the Bombers were held scoreless on five chances. On thing that was missing from Flin Flon's game this weekend was body contact. Of course there were the occasional checks thrown, and some pretty good ones at that, but they were few and far between. Humboldt's lineup was already injury laden, and a little more contact early in the game may have tipped the scale in the Bombers' favour. The loss on Saturday was a costly one for Flin Flon, as they now trail the Melfort Mustangs by 11 points for the final playoff spot in the ITECH Conference. After 27 games played, the Bombers are virtually halfway through their 55-game schedule, with a record of 5-18-3-1. Currently, the team is short handed due to an injury to Rylan Zakreski and the recent wave of players walking out on the team. December 1 is the deadline for teams to cut back to 25 carded players, so expect the Bombers to move some of the holdouts before Wednesday. The Bombers will have the rest of the week to prepare for Bob Beatty and the La Ronge Ice Wolves, who will be in town for games on Friday and Saturday.
