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 numbers don't necessarily show it, but the Flin Flon Bombers defense has improved. Aside from striving to work on offense, time has been committed to defense since Brad Snyder was hired to relieve Ryan Hoffman as coach-GM in early October. "We've increased our defensive abilities a lot," Snyder says. "Kindersley on the first game, third period, got two shots on net. We were up by one goal, so we shut them right down in the third period. We basically did the same thing to them on Sunday night. Once we got that one-goal lead, we didn't go into a defensive shell, but we played a little smarter, we kept the puck to the outside. They did get a few more shots, but nothing of major quality." The two games Snyder was talking about came during their recent roadtrip on Oct. 19 and 20. To Snyder, that improved play made the difference between winning by a goal instead of losing by one. Under Hoffman this season, the Bombers allowed an average of four goals a game. The Snyder-led Bombers have allowed 4.3 goals per game with 43 goals scored in 10 games. The defense has improved with the little things the team does. "If the other team is breaking out, we have to take away lanes," the Bombers coach explains, "know where the passing lanes are, know where their breakout systems are going so you can take away that pass. He's either passing through you or he's got to do something that makes him feel uncomfortable and that's what you want to do." Defenseman Myles Masse believes the defense has been pretty good. "We've had some lapses," he explains after Wednesday's practice, "but we're working on it and we're playing better in our defensive zone except for the game in Battleford where we let in eight goals." Masse says that Snyder came in and brought more of a defensive mind to the team. "He's been working with us individually, having meetings with us, telling us what our roles are and it's been showing," he says. A rookie with the team, Masse believes puck movement has improved. "We're not losing the puck as much," he says. "We're making better passes and we'll keep on improving throughout the year as long as we keep practicing." Goalie Zane Kalemba has noticed a difference, too. "We've been playing a lot more sound defensively," Kalemba says. "We're not trying to rush the puck as much as a d-core and we're just making the smarter plays - chip off the glass and get it out of the zone." When told the team has allowed an average of 36 shots per game with Snyder, Kalemba doesn't feel that's a good indicator of the defensive play. "I think you have to look more at scoring chances and maybe we've had 40 shots a game for a couple games," he states, "but there haven't been any quality scoring chances - they're more from the outside - so I think if we just limit the scoring chances, we'll be fine." He's also seen improvement in the odd-man rushes. Kalemba believes the team is tightening the gap, especially in the defensive zone. "They're just letting me worry about making the save and they're picking up the extra guy so there's no rebound chance," he explains. This weekend the Bombers face the Estevan Bruins, who defeated them in their own rink 9-6. Snyder is looking to return the favour. Against Melville on Saturday, a stronger team, the Bombers will have to bring their game to another level. Question is, can they?11/25/2005
