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 hope Braden Olszewski is the saviour for their struggling power play. The 5-7, 165 pound center/winger was traded to the Bombers for Jesse Gulbraa, who never reported after being traded for Clayton Geiger. Olszewski comes over from the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. "Oh yeah, for sure, it's great to be here," says Olszewski, who is excited to join the club. "It's always a great place to play when I was playing against them in La Ronge, so it should be a good time here." With the Bobcats he collected four points in 16 games. The Alan, SK native also played two seasons with the La Ronge Ice Wolves, recording 12 goals, 18 assists for 30 points in 98 games. "I think it's a good trade for us," says Bombers interim coach/GM Brad Snyder on Wednesday. "It gives us a power-play specialty guy, he's very skilled, very quick. He should increase our power-play percentages by quite a bit." Out of 12 teams, the Bombers sit 11th as they have scored 16 times in 142 chances, which equals to 11 per cent. In trading for the 19-year-old, the Bombers will have him for one more season, something that coach Snyder likes. Olszewski arrived Tuesday night and was on the ice Wednesday for his first practice. "Right now we're just getting him on the ice and letting him feel comfortable and getting him to meet the players. We don't want to put no pressure on him. I've already told him I expect two points on the power-play every game so I think that's enough pressure for now," Snyder says with a laugh. Snyder says Olszewski will start on the fourth line with Kenton Staines and Darryl Finnerty. He hopes that will strengthen that line. "Our fourth line hasn't been getting as much ice-time and that's probably some of my fault," Snyder explains, "not feeling confident enough in them." Olszewski hopes that he can help his new team with their offense. "Hopefully I can help out in that area and maybe even even-strength," he says. "Help them out front, get the puck down low and work it and get some scoring opportunities." Olszewski isn't the only one excited about his arrival. Defenseman David Holinaty knows what the newest Bomber can bring. "He's a good little player," Holinaty says enthusiastically. "He's got really good hands and scrappy, tenacious little guy."
