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 pre-season has been good to the Flin Flon Bombers so far. With two games and two wins under their belts, the Bombers seem to be taking the exhibition season in stride. The first game against the Dauphin Kings left the MJHL team heading home with a 5-3 loss on their minds. But it was Wednesday nightÕs 8-2 win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves that really got the crowd going. Just shy of 500 were at the Whitney Forum for the game to see the Bombers outshoot the Ice Wolves 31-19. No one gets a better view of the game than a goalie. And veteran netminder Carsen Chubak, who was between the pipes, says he could see a couple of things that need to be corrected. ÒWe were running around a bit,Ó says Chubak. ÒThey just donÕt know their jobs yet, but they will learn.Ó The goalie noted that the new players just needed a few more practices. Chubak, who split the time in net last year with Calvin Bartel, says itÕs weird right now with a team of rookies. ÒBut they are all good players,Ó he says. ÒThere is a good group of players coming in here. And I think once the vets are all better, we will be a more well-rounded team than last year. ÒBut tonight was a good exhibition game, for sure.Ó The Bombers and Ice Wolves scrambled around the ice in the first and second periods, but it was the third when the Maroon and White picked up their socks. ÒI just wasnÕt pleased with the way we were playing in the first and second,Ó says head coach and GM Mike Reagan. Though the teamÕs game plan stays the same, Reagan says they needed to fix something for the third period. ÒI didnÕt care how many goals we scored Ð I just wanted to play better,Ó says the coach. The team goes into all games Òjust wanting to win,Ó says Reagan. ÒWe play with intensity.Ó And that was true for WednesdayÕs game as the Bombers knew what type of team La Ronge is. ÒLa Ronge is a tough team to play against in the regular or the pre-season,Ó says Reagan. ÒWe prepare the guys as much as we can...but it wasnÕt until the third when we decided to turn things up a notch.Ó The coaches werenÕt pleased with the way things were going, so to finish off the last period, the Bombers were back to give it their all. ÒWeÕve got a lot of talent here, but it wasnÕt working in the first and second period,Ó Reagan says. With it only being the second game of the pre-season, Reagan says itÕs not only too soon to tell what kind of team they are going to be playing, but ÒitÕs still too early for us.Ó ÒThere are a lot of vets that havenÕt played yet,Ó says the coach. ÒBut weÕre going to be better.Ó With that being said, Reagan adds that itÕs still too early to know just what the Bombers have. ÒYou donÕt know until the season starts. We are confident, but we still have a lot of work to do.Ó The following is a game summary from WednesdayÕs game against the Ice Wolves: On a power play just under five minutes into the first period, Matt White was able to get past Ice Wolf Kale Tahraw after being fed by Cole Gibson and Devin Mitzner. With a score of 1-0, the Bombers tried for a second but were unsuccessful until Doug Macleod lit the lantern, with assists from Patrick Henderson and Tristan Houde, on a power play goal. And just before the end of the first period, Joel RumpellÕs shutout was broken on the power play as the Ice Wolves made it 2-1. After a quick cleaning of the ice, the guys were back at it and not wasting any time as the Bombers fired off their first goal only 2:34 into the period. After accepting a pass from Harley Garrioch and Mitch Dougall, Gibson earned himself his first goal of the night. And that would be it for the Maroon and White for the second period, as far as scoring was concerned. Bringing the score back up, La Ronge was able to get past Chubak on another power play for their second and final goal of the night. With a score of 3-2, the teams left the ice once again. It must have been one good pep talk from the coaches as the Bombers came back and fired off another five goals throughout the period, making it 8-2 for the final. Earning goals and assists were: Oliver Patry, assisted by White and Stephan Lemercier, on a power play Patry, assisted by Gibson and White Gibson, assisted by Lemercier Lemercier, assisted by Gibson and Frank Riddle, on a power play Garrioch, assisted by Tristan Houde The Bombers were back at the Whitney Forum Friday night taking on the OCN before heading south for a visit on Saturday. Sunday had the team in Nipawin to take on the Hawks. Please see WednesdayÕs paper for further coverage.
