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.
The Whitney Forum was the place to be last Saturday as the Bombers and Ice Wolves battled it out for third place in the Itech Conference. In what many are calling the best game of the season so far, the Bombers went into the game confident and werenÕt leaving until third place was theirs. The Maroon and White took it by one with a score of 3-2 for the win. Just shy of 1,250 people filled in the rink to see the Bombers take third place from La Ronge with their second win in two nights. And with the Ice Wolves now sitting three points behind the Bombers, there was no chance of them reclaiming their third place title. The Bombers will be playing in the Selection Series of the playoffs, while the Ice Wolves will be battling it out in the Elimination Series, in hopes of continuing. Saturday night saw Dustyn Clegg earn himself two of the three goals scored. Reid MacLeod found the back of the net as well, moving that much closer to earning the scoring championship title. With only a few points separating Jordie Jonston, MacLeod and Pierre-Luc Boucher from the champion title, both were trying their best to move a little closer first place. But Johnston was unable to get on the score sheet that night, leaving MacLeod with the only goal and Boucher with an assist. But it was Clegg who started things off for the Bombers, after being fed by Boucher, nearly 12 minutes into the first period. Clegg found the back of the net as he got past Jonathan Jobin for the first goal of the game. And MacLeod, in true fashion, made it 2-0 a few minutes later getting past Jobin with help from Harley Garrioch. Calvin Bartel was in the pipes as he saw eight shots come in way in the first period. Getting up just a little were the Bombers as they fired off 11 shots to Jobin. And it was Matt Restoule who earned the only penalty for the Bombers in the first period with a hooking call early into the period. The Ice Wolves doubled up on penalties as Calvin Fiddler was given two minutes for roughing after the whistle and teammate Dustin Stevenson sat out for roughing. And the Bombers didnÕt hold back in the second period. Although they waited for the final seconds of the period, Clegg, assisted by Dennis Kubat and Garrioch, made it 3-0. Penalties seem to be a thing of the past for the Bombers as they were only given two throughout the period. Clegg sat his two minutes out for hooking while Kubat was given two minutes for roughing. And David Lawrence was given the only La Ronge penalty, for interference. Bartel saw another nine shots come his way, while the Bombers fired off another 10 at Jobin, keeping him on his toes. With a score of 3-0, the teams hit the ice for the third, and final period, of the game. The quick intermission seemed to have helped the Ice Wolves as they broke BartelÕs shutout after only two minutes of play. And the team scored their final goal against the Bombers, in regular season, just after the 12:30 mark, to make it 3-2, for the Bombers. But it wasnÕt for a lack of trying as the Ice Wolves managed 10 shots on Bartel, while Jobin faced another 11. The Bombers celebrated their win with not one moose leg, but two moose legs and a stuffed moose for their stick raising. When the Bombers hit the ice for the first period they were sitting in fourth place, but as they left after the third they had moved up to third place. ÒAbsolutely, itÕs a good feeling,Ó says assistant coach Clayton Quinn, adding that there was some added stress to the game. ÒBut itÕs all good stress when itÕs hockey. ItÕs no good if there isnÕt any stress,Ó he says, adding that, otherwise, the team is just winging it. The Whitney Forum was louder than it had been in a while, and as Quinn says, the game was entertaining. Throughout the game there were a number of post ringers, with what should have been goals. ÒIt keeps the fans excited,Ó he says. ÒClegg had a couple of good shots. And you want them to all go in, but of course they wont.Ó From the start of the season Quinn admits there were some mistakes, but as he says, you canÕt be perfect. ÒWeÕre confident. And of course we hate seeing mistakes. When it comes down to the line, you want to be perfect, but you are never going to be perfect,Ó says the assistant coach. For those in the stands watching the game and the bench, the emotion and passion of the game comes across both Quinn and head coach and GM Mike ReaganÕs faces, but as Quinn says, itÕs a good thing. ÒIÕm super nervous on the bench, but thatÕs good for the players. WeÕre (he and Reagan) very vocal on the bench, and if they see that, they feed off of it,Ó he says. ÒThatÕs what we want to see in the guys. We want to see all their heart and emotion get put into it.Ó The Bombers went from a not so healthy January to being undefeated in regulation time in February. ÒWe give full marks for dedication,Ó says Reagan. The Bombers hosted the Nipawin Hawks Tuesday night, for the final game of the regular season. ÒIt gives an opportunity to rest the guys. And weÕll see what happens,Ó he said after Saturday nightÕs game. ÒBut we want to win all we can. ÒWeÕre undefeated in regulation time (this month) and we would like to continue that.Ó
