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 meet a usual foe in the Battlefords' North Stars tonight, but also a new opponent in Clayton Geiger, their former captain. This is the third meeting between the two with the North Stars winning 3-1 and 5-4. The biggest difference between the Bombers now compared to earlier this season is they're in better shape and play harder. "So far I think it's going pretty good," says interim coach/GM Brad Snyder on his players' conditioning. "We're playing stronger every game...I think that they found out with the work ethics, if you don't have the conditioning, then you can't do it, so that's come a long ways." Being coached by a blue-collar worker who emphasizes work ethics constantly will bring that out. Besides, Snyder won't accept anything less. "I think that we were weak going into the third period," Snyder explains, about the team he took over in mid-October. "Our conditioning just wasn't where it should be yet, and that's nobody's fault but the players." The Bombers have learned the hard way that they have to play opponents for an entire game, but especially when facing top teams like La Ronge and Battlefords'. Practices have involved more skating and conditioning drills to improve. "Do a dump and chase drill, change on the go," he says. "There's no sitting on the boards, no time. You've got to be ready to go. If you do that for 10 minutes, you've had a good work out, because you're either chasing the puck to get it out for your break out and try to get out of your end zone, then dump it in so you can get a change and then the other team is coming right back at you." Forward Andrew Leslie says the improvements really show in close games. "The strength that we're showing in the third is a lot better than at the beginning of the year," says Leslie. During the off-season to stay in shape, Leslie lifts weights twice a week and then does sprints along with jumps, squats, walking lunges and side-to- side exercises to develop foot speed. Opponents don't out work the Bombers too often, but they beat them by taking advantage of mental mistakes. The North Stars will be another good test. As of Nov. 15, they are 17-5-1-2 in 25 games, while the Bombers are 4-16-0-1 in 21 games. Defense will be tested as the North Stars lead the Itech Conference with 98 goals. That averages to 3.9 goals per game. The Bombers are averaging 2.7 goals per game in 21 games. Not only is Geiger facing his former team, but Evan Smith is too, as he was part of the trade with Jesse Gulbraa that sent Geiger to the North Stars. "Yeah, I have a lot," Smith says. "Not really nervousness, but kind of just anxious to show them up. Show them they shouldn't have traded me, but I just want to get out there and prove myself and play good and definitely get a win." Smith believes his new team has a good chance to defeat his old one. "I know playing them (Flin Flon), their hardwork was really tough to play against when I was in Battleford," he says. Captain Blake McCullough, is looking forward to the game because he considers the North Stars the team to beat. "It's a tough barn to play in, but we played with those guys for two straight games," recalls McCullough on the tough losses. "The first game we just didn't get the scoring, the second game we got the scoring, but didn't play defense." "We definitely need four out of six points, but there's no reason we can't get those six out of six points," McCullough says confidently. The Bombers captain believes the North Stars are beatable and thinks goaltending is their weakness. "We definitely have an edge in the goaltending so we'll use that to our advantage." McCullough says. The fact the team is playing against Geiger is providing extra motivation. "A lot of guys are looking forward to it and it will be exciting," he says. "I think every time, whether you play a former team you've been traded from, or players you played with who have been traded to other teams, you feel like you have something to prove to them. This is bragging rights, we want to prove to Clayton that we're a good team and that he should have stayed here and played with us."
