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.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer The Flin Flon Bombers and La Ronge Ice Wolves spent most of Tuesday night's game tied, at 1-1, in the third game of the Conference Semifinals. But a big goal from Andrew Johnston late in the third period gave the Bombers a 2-1 win while narrowing the Ice Wolves' series lead to 2-1. La Ronge scored the first goal of the crucial game three near the 12-minute mark of the first period. Jonathon Young, who was named Most Improved Player for the Bombers at their awards banquet, tied the game with a goal just after a power play came to an end 1:37 into the second period. With the game tied at 1-1, the Bombers and Ice Wolves kept the shots coming, but it wasn't until 14:34 in the third that the Bombers sealed the deal. With the win, the Bombers secured a game five in La Ronge tonight. After Johnston's goal, head coach and GM Mike Reagan said, the focus was on keeping his players' eyes on the game. "...we were excited and that," he said, "but, we've been in situations like that where we've given up a goal right [away]." 'Refocus' Knowing what was at stake, Reagan told his players to "refocus" and to "know their responsibilities." Watching his team play Tuesday night, Reagan said he was surprised they didn't "have more jump" against the Ice Wolves. Down 2-0 in the series, the Bombers were on home ice for the first time since taking the win over the Battlefords North Stars in the Elimination Series. Flin Flon didn't look like the same team that beat Battlefords 3-1 in that series. "I'm happy we won [against La Ronge], but I think we can play a lot better," said Reagan. But for Reagan, there is an upside to his team not playing to their potential. "I really didn't think we put our best foot forward tonight, which I think is exciting for us to know that we [didn't] play our best game and we can [still] win a hockey game," he said. The Bombers and Ice Wolves were back on the ice Wednesday night for the fourth game of the series, after The Reminder went to press. A win for the Bombers would tie the series and turn a best-of-seven into a best-of-three. "If, at the beginning of the series, you tell me we're going to go down to a best-of-three, I like that," said Reagan. "I think that's a good position for us." See 'Hoping...' on pg. 5 Continued from pg. 5 The Bombers, who lost to the Ice Wolves in the Conference Semi-finals last year, are hoping for the opposite outcome this season. With three games out of the way, and one going to the Bombers, Reagan said the team would be sitting in a good position if they could take the win Wednesday. "It means we're battling," he said. "It just takes one bounce this way or that way and its ours." Winless in the opening two games, the Bombers had a tough challenge ahead of them going into Tuesday's match-up. "Tomorrow night is huge," Reagan said following Tuesday's win. "We thought tonight was huge, tomorrow is even bigger." Knowing they were heading on the road Ð where games are often tougher than on home iceÊÐ Reagan said Flin Flon didn't want to go into La Ronge down 3-1 in the series. The Bombers' backs were against the wall Wednesday night, but not nearly as much as they would have been with a loss Tuesday. "But there's still a lot of work to be done," said Reagan. The Bombers were hoping for a win to bring the sixth, and hopefully final, game of the series back to home ice. "We want to make sure there is a game six in the Whitney Forum. That would be huge for us," said Reagan.
