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.
After leaving the ice from Friday's 12-1 victory over the Red Wings, the Flin Flon Bombers knew they were going to have to be on their game to win two nights in a row over the top team in the SJHL. The standings said Weyburn lead the league, but the Bombers proved whose barn the Whitney Forum was as they took another two points from the Red Wings with a 2-1 win. Watching the second game of the teams' double header weekend, head coach and GM Mike Reagan said he was expecting that type of game for both nights of the series. "We did it both ways," he said after Saturday's game. "I was happy with (Friday's) 12-1 win. We showed we could beat them with offence and then tonight we showed them we could beat them with defense." Both the Bombers and the Red Wings were on their game as Weyburn earned the first marker, giving them the lead for the first time that weekend. Matt Weninger was solid for another night as he turned away 41 of the team's 42 shots on net. For the Bombers, it was David Dykstra (Mike Rey, Dominic Martel) and Matty Lecours (Andrew Johnston) lighting the lamp. Going into the dressing room for the first intermission, the teams were tied at 1-1. But it was Lecours' goal in the second period that won the game for the home team in front of nearly 900 fans Ð a drop from the nearly 1,200 the night before. Gaining four points over the weekend against the Red Wings sent the message that the Bombers were "a team to be reckoned with," according to Reagan. "I think we believe we have the best team in the league. We wanted to prove that to ourselves, to our fans and the league that we're for real," said the coach. "I think we did that." Knowing and proving can be two different things, but the Bombers proved what they knew over the weekend Ð though Friday's blowout was a little unexpected. "We know they've got a very good hockey club," said Reagan. "We lost in a shootout to them down there Ð that was the controversy where we thought we won the shootout, but it was a goal that got disallowed," he said, making note that the puck was "definitely in." "So, in our eyes, we're (really) 3-0 against them Ð we're 2-0-1 against them now." The Bombers know that the Red Wings are a good club, but Reagan says so is Flin Flon. "...we think we're just an overall better club than they are," he said. "We can play two different styles Ð we can play offensive or the defensive game." Having Weninger in net was another strong point for the Bombers Saturday night. Reagan said the netminder was "phenomenal" once again. "He's wowing us right now. I'm glad my gut instinct said to keep him," he said, referring back to the trade with Nipawin where Ryan Kerpan was sent to the Hawks. "He's showing he can make those big saves when we need him. Right now, he's hot and he's feeling it." Reagan says when it comes to a goaltender, "when they are hot, they are pretty tough to beat." See '?????' on pg. Continued from pg. "He's just oozing of confidence right now and that's what you want to see out of your number one." Helping his team out, the Bombers secured their fifth straight win in a row Saturday, making them 12-1 at the Whitney Forum this season. Next on the docket was last night's game against the Nipawin Hawks. "It's going to be an exciting game," said Reagan. "They are playing a lot better now, and I mean obviously Kerpan's going to be playing....and (Scott) Brkich and (Tanner) Dusyk (are) going to be back." Reagan planned to start Klynt Spencer, giving Weninger the night off from guarding the mesh. Making note that Spencer understands the situation of who gets to play what night, Reagan says he's a guy who there when needed. "He's a team guy and he's been a team guy since day one," he said. "He's a good goaltender. "We just need to get him some action. "It was one of those things. After the trade, we needed to get Weninger going and he's been just so hot that it's been tough to get Spence in Ð not because he doesn't deserve to be in, but because of how well Weninger has been playing." This was the first time since the trade that the Bombers and Hawks faced off. "It's going to be exciting for them," says Reagan referring to the former Bombers and Rey, the former Hawk. "Rey is going to be playing against his former team Ð he's going to be pretty excited to be doing that." With the amount of talk that has been surrounding the trade, Reagan hopes that it will be put to rest following the game. "We've got to move on from this trade," he said. "The trade is done. It's not the Wayne Gretzky trade here. "We moved three guys and we got one player back," he said. "It's over, it's done with." Following last night's game, the Bombers are taking part in the Showcase this weekend in North Battlefords. Playing Humboldt Thursday evening and then the Hawks Friday morning, the Bombers are set for their games.
