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 Flin Flon Bombers hit the ice for training camp last weekend with everything from pre-skates and inter squad games. With more than 50 Bomber hopefuls out on the ice, head coach Mike Reagan said he was pleased with the way things were going. "I'm really happy and things are getting better each session we have," said the first-time head coach. As expected, the first couple of sessions of camp were more or less to let the players "get their feet moving," said Reagan. On that note, he added that "things will only get better." After watching the boys on the ice for a little while, Reagan said, "you don't want to peak too early, you want to peak at the end." And he said, "we're going to get better and come around." This past weekend wasn't the first chance the players had to get out on the ice together. Reagan said he saw the talent come out in the spring training camp. As for the team itself, he said there is "good chemistry." "It's a really good skating team, they move the puck and I'm happy with the speed of things," he added. The speed and the talent, Reagan said, is what the team wants. Reagan has some tough decisions to make. With more than 50 hopefuls out there, the team will be cut down to 25 or so. "We'll keep 27 for the exhibition games, but after that, for the season, we will have 25," he said. As for the exhibition games, Reagan said he's excited to get things started for the season. The first exhibition was held September 2 in Swan River. "I watched Swan River play in The Pas and I like the way our teams will match up," said the excited coach. The team itself is on the same wavelength as coach Reagan. Returning forward Dennis Kubat said, "this year we've got some better players and it's more competitive." The 20-year-old adds, "it's a different atmosphere. Everyone is in better shape and working harder." But Kubat says he's looking forward to the season and to see what's going to happen. "This is my last year, so we'll have to make it a good one," he said. Rookie Mike Young came up from the UFA Bisons in Alberta from AAA. He says he has seen some good players and is excited about the upcoming season. "There's lots of contact, so that's good," he said. On a similar note, goalie Carsen Chubak says things are going pretty well. Standing between the pipes gives Chubak the opportunity to see the whole game, and the 18-year-old said "things are a bit more physical." After coming from the P.A. Mintos AAA midget team, which won last year's nationals, Chubak said he brings a "winning attitude" to the Bombers bench. "We just need to get some fans out now," he joked. This year's team seems to be what the town needs. Reagan said, "we've got a great thing here. Last year we relied heavily on our first string, but now if one string isn't on their game, we've got three others to rely on." Aside from being pleased with the strings, Reagan also said "this year we've got a stronger defense." And he added, "the guys will play and contribute night in and night out." The Bombers played their Maroon and Grey intrasquad game on Sunday at the Whitney Forum. The grey team skated away with a 7-6 shootout victory. Starting things off in the first period was Dennis Kubat of the Grey team, but Maroon held no prisoners as they snapped off two goals, the first from Dustyn Clegg and the second from Robert Beaudry, assisted by Mitch Dougall. See 'Masse' on pg. Continued from pg. The first period came to an end with a score of 2-1 for Maroon. The second period saw Grey's Myles Masse even things up on a feed from Steven Joncas. Grey's Kazz Ito brought the score up to 3-2, assisted by Pierre Luc Boucher. Then Maroon came flying out as Dustyn Clegg scored another goal, assisted by Jon Mitchell and Fred Lamontange. That meant a tied score of 3-3 to close out the second period. Grey started off the scoring again in the third period. Steven Joncas, assisted by Travis Savard and Cole Wilson, brought the score to 4-3. Grey then managed another goal by Reid McLeod, assisted by Dennis Kubat. Maroon came back and showed the Grey team they were still in the game. Brock Appleyard, assisted by Owen Woloshyn, brought the score to 5-4. Those two would team up again, only in reverse, as Woloshyn scored the final goal of the period on a feed from Appleyard to bring the score to a 5-5 tie. After five minutes of a scoreless overtime, the teams went to a shoot-out. Maroon started things off with Dustyn Clegg scoring the first goal. Grey failed to answer back as Myles Masse was denied. The puck was in Tommy Castonguay's control and he didn't let the crowd down as he scored the second goal, bringing the score to 7-5. Pierre Luc Boucher tried his luck for the Grey team. He was close but no cigar. Up next was Maroon's Dominic Martel, who was also denied. Grey sent in Steven Joncas to bring up the score, but there wa no such luck. Maroon's final choice was Shaun McNaulty but he couldn't light the lamp, either. Grey's final answer was Cole Wilson, who had it in him. He scored to bring the final score of the game to 7-6 for Maroon. The Bombers will open the regular season at home a week from today, Friday, September 14, at the Whitney Forum against Melfort.
