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 La Ronge Ice Wolves kept the Flin Flon Bombers on their toes Tuesday night at the Whitney Forum as the teams battled it out to the bitter end of a long shootout. The Ice Wolves walked away with a 4-3 win over the Bombers, bumping themselves another two points above the Maroon and White for third in the Itech Conference. Four games in five days would take its toll on anyone, including the Bombers. But being tired didnÕt set them back as they dominated the game against the Ice Wolves. And although they lost in a shootout, Flin Flon outshot La Ronge 47-24. Newcomer Matt Dyck, from the MJHLÕs Neepawa Natives, got himself on the score sheet with a helper on Dustyn CleggÕs goal in the first period. Just over 1,000 fans watched as the Ice Wolves answered the Bombers back with every goal. But it was the shootout that made the final decision as both teams went through a number of shooters, before La Ronge sealed the deal. According to Bombers head coach and GM Mike Reagan, the team is pretty banged up right now with three players not dressed for the game. ÒThe guys are mentally and physically tired. ItÕs a tough month and itÕs taking its toll on us right now,Ó he says. The Maroon and White had two days of rest before taking on the Humboldt Broncos tonight. Reagan says that rest is huge for the team. ÒOur last regular season game is February 19... and weÕre playing a lot of games here, so to have two or three days off is a big break for us.Ó TuesdayÕs game got started with both teams playing the puck back and forth with hopes of a goal. Bomber Clegg capitalized on his opportunity as Dyck and David Linsley fed him the puck for the powerplay goal. But the glory was short-lived as the Ice Wolves answered back with a goal less than five minutes later. With the score tied at one apiece, the teams played the ice but were unable to score for a second time in the period. Calvin Bartel stood sturdy in the net as he blocked four of his five shots, while the Bombers tripled up, and then some, as they had 17 shots on La RongeÕs Jonathan Jobin. The second period was much like the first as the Bombers started off the scoring and La Ronge answered back. There was still a lot of puck action between the teams as Cole Wilson found the back of the net after Harley Garrioch passed the puck, to make it 2-1 for the Maroon and White. And continuing along, Ice Wolf Jarrid Dowhay snuck one past Bartel from the blue line late in the second period. With things tied up at two, the third period had the fans on the edge of their seats, but not as much as the shootout would later on. Spectators looked on and cheered as Linsley lit the lantern to break the tie at 1:35 in the period, with help from linemates Cameron MacKinnon and Pierre-Luc Boucher. And once again, La Ronge answered back with their third goal of the night. With a three-period total of 47-24 shots on goal, the Bombers and Ice Wolves were headed to overtime. Overtime The four-on-four overtime play began but soon became four-on-three as La RongeÕs Joel Belair was given a penalty for tripping. And while the Bombers had their shots, they were unable to get past Jobin. Bartel faced only one shot during the five-minute over time, and the game was sent to a shootout. For fans it seemed to go on forever as both goalies were on their games. It was up to the Bombers as they had one shot left and needed one more goal for the win. But not even the 1,036 fans cheering could stir his confidence as he stopped the home sideÕs shot. Although winning TuesdayÕs game would have bumped them up above La Ronge in the Itech Conference, Reagan says he still feels confident not only about the elimination series, but the playoffs as well. ÒThis year the league is so tight, any one of eight teams could win... but we have a legitimate shot at winning once we have some bodies back,Ó says Reagan, noting that three players were out from Òminor bumps and bruises.Ó The team hopes to see a full roster for tonightÕs game, but he says, ÒweÕll have to see.Ó With the regular season coming to end in the middle of February, Reagan looks back at the season so far and says, so far itÕs been pretty good. ÒUnfortunately there are four really good teams in the Itech Conference. But the main thing is to get out there and play good hockey going into the playoffs,Ó he says. And as for the playoffs right now, is he confident? ÒOh yeah,Ó which is enough said. Newly named Bomber Dyck, who was acquired from the Neepawa Natives recently, says he got to spend his first few days with the Maroon and White in true Bomber fashion. ÒThe first three games were on the road, so we spent a lot of time in the hotels and got to know each other,Ó says the Lowe Farm, MB, native. ÒBut itÕs good to be here. ItÕs a good group of guys and we have a good shot at the playoffs and a good run at the cup.Ó And while Dyck spent the last two-and-a-half-years with the Natives, he says there is one big difference between the teams. ÒTo come from one team not making the playoffs, to a team who will make it,Ó he says, thatÕs huge. And as for the forwardÕs goals as a Bomber, he says, simply to, Òwin the league.Ó The Bombers face off against the leading top team, the Humboldt Broncos tonight. Dennis Kubat, Reid MacLeod, Myles Masse and Pierre-Luc Boucher are heading to Yorkton tomorrow to play in the All-Star game, before meeting up with the team for Tuesday nightÕs game in Nipawin against the Hawks. The team will make their way to Notre Dame on Wednesday and then Weyburn on Friday, before hitting Estevan on Saturday.
