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.
While Travis Crickard isn't happy he's no longer a Flin Flon Bomber, he's pleased to be playing again after being dealt to the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League on Nov. 20. "I'm glad that it's finally over and I can get started up here and playing some stick and puck," Crickard said. Prior to the Saskatoon Showcase on Sept. 23, the Bombers traded Crickard to the Winnipeg Saints of the MJHL, but he wasn't happy with the situation there, so he refused to stay and returned. Two months later, Crickard has a new home. "I feel pretty good, be a bit closer to home for me. They got a couple of Newfoundlanders on the team there, too, so I'll definitely blend in really well with my fellow Newfs," said the 19-year-old. Crickard, who desired to be Flin Flon's main guy in net, wasn't going to get his wish under coach-GM Doug Stokes, so the Bomber boss decided to make a move. "This trade with Travis is one of the hardest ones I've ever had to do in my career because I've never had any kid as committed to being a hockey player as what Travis Crickard is," Stokes explained, following the trade to the Saints. "He's a dry land fanatic. You can't keep him out of the weight room. He's in tremendous condition." Crickard, who had a 1-1 record this season and finishes his Bomber career at 4-8-1, became expendable when the team acquired Mike Nichol from the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL for Matt Hill in September. Crickard was shocked and disappointed upon being traded at the time. "I love it here and I'm not going to hide that," Crickard said during a previous interview. "I definitely cried when I found out the news. I don't want to burn any bridges with Doug Stokes, I like him a lot. I don't really think he gave me a fair shake this season. We've played five games and I've only got one start. I don't think that's really being given the chance to being the starter." Now a Slammer, Crickard agreed with a comment made by his former roommate and teammate Kenton Staines. "He thought goaltending was all about being at the right place at the right time and this probably wasn't the right situation for me because I wasn't going to get the chance at being a starter," Crickard added. "I want to say good luck to all the fellows on the team and I wish them all the best. "I will miss the Whitney Forum, and the fans," he said. "I haven't seen every arena in Canada, but in my eyes it's bar none the best place to play junior A hockey. Just how well all the players here got treated so good." Crickard's last words as a Bomber were fitting and can be seen in the team's dressing room: "Once a Bomber, always a Bomber."
