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 two games into round robin play, the Bombers were scoreless and winless against both the Humboldt Broncos and the Melfort Mustangs. But being back in the Whitney Forum, along with a few tough physical practices, seemed to be what the Bombers needed as they gained themselves some more confidence as they doubled up on the Mustangs 4-2 Thursday night, in front of a home crowd of just over 600 fans. Before the round robin began, the Whitney was seeing numbers closer to 1,100 people, which is a considerable gap from the 619 who showed up Thursday. Head coach and GM Mike Reagan says he hopes people start coming out again, soon. ÒWe were disappointed with the size of the crowd tonight,Ó he said after the game. ÒI think the guys have worked really hard all year and they deserve to play in front of a big energetic crowd.Ó And although the Bombers may not be in game seven of the playoffs right now, Reagan says these games count, too. ÒThe playoffs are only so long, so they should be going to as many games as possible,Ó says Reagan. ÒTonight meant a lot and we got the momentum we needed.Ó But he adds, having the big crowds there brings more momentum for the team. After finishing up the AAA Midget season, Flin Flon natives Jordan Crone and Tanner Korchinski have found themselves on the roster for the remainder of the season. Which to Crone is exciting, but he says it comes with a few differences. ÒItÕs (junior) quick, more physical and itÕs a harder game,Ó he says. But putting the differences aside, Crone says being able to score the teamÕs first playoff goal was Òthe best feeling of my life.Ó And the good feeling only continued as the young Bomber said itÕs pretty exciting to even be on the roster. ÒItÕs something I always wished would happen,Ó he says, noting that he had been wishing since his days in minor hockey. Thursday nightÕs game saw the first period scoreless, but certainly not actionless as both teams found themselves in the box a number of times. With only a minute into the game, Bomber Brennan Cox was in for hooking, which would be followed a few minutes later by Mustang Cam Larsen in the bin for cross checking. With a few other minor penalties, including a tripping call on Barrett Penner and holding by Ryan Gareau, the action started to heat up as David Linsley and Riley Clark found themselves in the middle of it. After a boarding call on Pierre-Luc Boucher, Linsley and Clark got into it, resulting in five minutes in the box for each, and two minutes for Linsley. But it didnÕt stop there as Dennis Kubat was given two minutes for goalie interference, which had Dominic Martel and Cam Oliphant duke it out. Both Kubat and Jordan Morgan were in for two minutes, as Morgan was called on cross checking before Martel and Oliphant were each given five minutes behind the glass. Finishing up the fight, with just less than three minutes in the period, Morgan was also given two minutes for roughing, which was served by teammate Donovan Chow. See 'Second' on pg. Continued from pg. And the final penalty of the period went to Mustang Harrison Tribble for slashing. Although it was 0-0 on the scoreboard, it wasnÕt from a lack of trying as the Bombers had fired off 11 shots to Ilia Ejov while Carsen Chubak saw only four shots come his way. The second period proved to be much more for scoring as MelfortÕs Morgan found the back of the net less than four minutes into the period, with an assist by Tommy Brown to make it 1-0. That could have been the push the Bombers needed as they scored their next two goals within a minute of MelfortÕs. AP Bomber Crone was first to the net to tie things up at one apiece after being fed by Matt Restoule, at the four minute mark. Only 33 seconds later David Dykstra was found the mesh as well with an assist from Matt Restoule. Within a minute the score went from 0-0 to 2-1, but it wouldnÕt stay for long as Tribble found the hole in ChubakÕs glove, literally, for the goal. The second period came to an end with 2-2 tie and only a few penalties. Much like the first, fans were calling it a gritty period as Harley Garrioch and Larsen dropped the gloves after a face-off. Both were given five minutes for fighting. Chubak saw only another eight shots come his way while the Bombers added another 11 shots to their tally. The third period, which heard the fans loud and clear, saw the Bombers pull ahead early in the period with a goal by Michael Young, assisted by Darcy Holfeld and Cole Wilson, making it 3-2 for the Maroon and White. The Mustangs fought throughout the period and tried for another goal, but were unsuccessful. With two minutes in the game left, the Mustangs pulled Ejov, hoping their sixth man on the ice would be enough to get past Chubak and the Bombers. Think again. Scott Day fired off the puck, from inside the Bomber end, for an empty net goal with only 20 seconds on the clock. That was enough to bring the fans to their feet, and enough for an early appearance by the famous moose leg. The ÒtrophyÓ was pushed aside for the rest of the 20 seconds while the Mustangs tried to hold their own, with Ejov back in the net, but they couldnÕt get on the scoreboard. The Bombers earned themselves a win in the round robin play after two losses. The Bombers had their eye on the La Ronge Ice Wolves throughout the regular season, but things are a different story now that the playoffs are in town. ÒWe donÕt know who weÕre playing yet,Ó says the coach. ÒWhoever we play we are playing.Ó The next round, which begins on Friday, March 7, doesnÕt have the Bombers worried, though, as they are taking it one day at a time.
