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.
Before the Flin Flon Bombers lost 8-0 to the Melfort Mustangs during Saturday's home opener, things started off good. Mackenzie Groenewegen and Blake Rolston each had tilts with Kris McCarthy and Jordan Morgan, and Steven Robinson delivered a solid shoulder check and created a good scoring chance. He might soon be dubbed the 'Robinson Wrecker' before too long. With only five shots on net, the Mustangs had few chances. The only problem for the Bombers was that the Mustangs scored on an unlucky bounce at 19:04 against Travis Crickard. Things got worse as the Bombers found themselves down 2-0 when the Mustangs scored their second power-play goal 1:12 into the second. That was the first of three goals. See 'Fans' P.# Con't from P.# Bomber fans watched in disgust and became verbally abusive. "I've been a fan here before I was a player. I said some harsh words to some players, too, but out there like that, we almost deserved it tonight," said Bomber forward Richard Dupre. "We got embarrassed in our own home opener and all we can do about it now is realize what happened and earn our respect back in this town. When we're winning it's 100 per cent behind us." The coffin was nailed shut as the Mustangs scored four third-period goals on the special teams. Two of them were shorthanded with the first one forcing Bombers coach-GM Doug Stokes to yank Crickard eight minutes into the period. Backup Calvin Bartel allowed two goals with the first coming on a bad bounce a minute after going in. Stokes didn't hide his areas of disappointment. "Specialty teams and goaltending," he said. "Major things in hockey. You got to call it as you see it. Power play or lack of it Ð was horrid. Penalty kill, I don't know how to describe it, half-assed, and we just weren't very good in goal. Simple as that." The Bombers coach also noted the two 5-on-3 goals in the third period. "At this level and beyond, it's just very difficult to play 5-on-3 without giving up any chances," he explained. Stokes was only "somewhat satisfied with the first two periods." He didn't think the score justified the game after the second. "The shots were 22-12 after two, down 4-0," he said. "I thought we played hard. We were physical. We ran at people. We competed, had a few tilts, did everything we wanted to do, but didn't get any stops." Crickard felt he played "godawful." His only hope is that his teammates and coaches don't lose confidence in him. "I struggled a bit lately, but I'm going to do my best for them and give them 110 everyday and I hope they still believe in me," Crickard said while riding an exercise bike after the loss. The Bombers played more disciplined, but that fell apart in the third period. During the entire game, over 30 penalties were given out. In Friday's season opener in Melfort, penalties hurt the Bombers as they lost 6-1 with Bartel in net. Dennis Kubat scored the lone goal. Trade Update The Flin Flon Bombers have traded 1989 G Garrett Zemlak to the Notre Dame Hounds for 1989 D Ethan Gardner. Gardner played last year at the Midget AA level with Moose Jaw. The second trade has 1988 F Michael Seib going to the Weyburn Red Wings for 1988 G Eric Potvin and 1988 D Michael Bondy.9/13/2006
