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.
It was the perfect end to a .500 month for Flin Flon as the Bombers took the Kindersley Klippers down 3-2 Saturday night. After shutting them out the night before, the Bombers were looking to head into the Christmas break on a positive note. The Maroon and White were faced with 11 games in 18 nights Ð a tough schedule for anyone Ð and came out with five wins, five losses and one overtime loss. But it was the last four games that were really special for the Bombers. According to head coach and GM Mike Reagan, the Bombers have not come home with three wins in four road games in a long time. The coach says he thinks it could be almost 10 years since the team was able to bring home six points from a four-game road series. ÒIÕm pretty proud of the guys,Ó says the coach. ÒItÕs a great way to end the first half of the season.Ó Though the team came out on top this weekend, Reagan says there have been some questions from the fans about the way to team has been playing. He says with a hectic schedule, it makes for a tough month, but mentions itÕs a Òlot of hockeyÓ being played by the Bombers. ÒWe havenÕt been below .500 (in a month) since IÕve taken over (coaching),Ó says Reagan. Though this DecemberÕs schedule was particularly tough on the team, Reagan says itÕs not always like that Ð itÕs just the luck of the draw. ÒItÕs not a favourable scheduled by any means... but February looks like a good month for us.Ó As for SaturdayÕs game, Reagan says the Bombers were sitting in a similar situation as the night before Ð they were keeping their focus on the game, not Christmas break. Reagan says the team really fed off the busload of Bomber fans who went to Kindersley to cheer on their team. ÒThe guys were excited to play in front of a boisterous crowd. There was a lot of Christmas spirit and it got the guys motivated,Ó he says. And although the Bombers scored the first goal of the game, the Klippers answered back, twice. Reagan says the team started out well, but it took a time-out to get them to refocus. After the 30-second pep talk, the guys were able to Òget a big goal from Dykstra to tie things at two,Ó says Reagan. Looking at the game, the coach used the phrase Òlast goal winsÓ on his team, comparing it to a road hockey game. And although there were no Òcar!Ó screams being made, the Bombers were able to come back and score that third and final goal for the win. Before SaturdayÕs game, Reagan spoke to the team Ð much like before FridayÕs game. Being mentally focused was the key message sent as Reagan also noted that they needed the same effort as the night before. Before the boys hit the ice, Reagan also threw in that it would be a nice feeling to go home on the Christmas break with another win under their belts. ÒIt would be nice...instead of ending on a sour note,Ó said the coach. After the win, the Bombers were ready for their much needed break. ÒThe guys can go home and relax now,Ó says Reagan. ÒThey can heal some wounds and come back with a fresh mind frame and feel good about their accomplishments.Ó The coach says when it comes to taking a break, itÕs always nice for the team to remember their last game as a good one. ÒIt was a character win,Ó says Reagan, noting that the Bombers beat a hungry Kindersley team. ÒItÕs tough back-to-back,Ó he says, Òbut we were able to do that.Ó As the boys are off for nine days, the coach says he is sure at least 20 of the guys will want to be back on the ice after five days. ÒThey get itching,Ó he says, noting that itÕs nice to spend time with family but Òthese guys want to play hockey.Ó The following is a summary of the game between the Bombers and Klippers Saturday night: Another 500-plus fans were in the audience to watch game two of the double-header series between the Klippers and the Bombers. Matt Weninger was back in net for the Bombers as he hoped to shut out his former team for a second night in a row. Things started off well for the Bombers as Alex Lamontagne scored the first goal, with help from Tommy Castonguay and Michael Young around the six-minute mark. That lead stood for 10 minutes before the Klippers earned their first goal of the weekend with a goal from Braeden Adamyk on a power play. And on another power play just seconds later, the Klippers did it again. For the first time in this series, the Bombers were down. To pull the team together, Reagan called a time-out to refocus the team. With that motivation still in their ears, Kevin Carpenter and Tanner Korchinski passed the puck to Dykstra for the goal Ð wrapping things up at two. Both teams fired off 15 shots. And although the Bombers gave another nine shots and the Klippers 10, neither team was able to get to the back of the net in the second period. The third period was when ReaganÕs road hockey theory came into play as Dominic Martel, with help from Castonguay and Lamontagne, moved the mesh for the teamÕs third goal for the win. All in all, the Bombers and Klippers both fired off 34 shots, but Weninger stood strong against his former team and only let two past him Ð in two nights. After their much needed break, the Bombers will be on the road in La Ronge on January 2 to start off the new year. Reagan says their recent road success makes it Òeasier to come back.Ó
