You'd have a hard time finding a better way for the Flin Flon Bombers to start the year - a 5-1 win over La Ronge in the team's home opener.
The Bombers began the scoring midway through the first period after a bouncing puck floated over Ice Wolves goalie Luke Lush. Rookie Chrystopher Collin was credited with the goal, earning his first Bomber tally in his first game.
Flin Flon extended their lead later in the first period after rookie Donovan Houle-Villeneuve popped Lush's water bottle with a beautiful shot on a wide-open breakaway.
The Bombers hit the gas in the second period, stretching the lead to three goals when Nick Shumlanski fired one over Lush's shoulder.
La Ronge stopped the bleeding in the second period when Justin Bill scored after a Bomber giveaway, but Flin Flon countered in the third. Kurtis Rutledge picked a corner to make the game 4-1 for the Bombers, then Tyler Nyman poke-checked the puck underneath a sprawling Lush late in the game to give Flin Flon a 5-1 victory.
Brenden Newton made 25 saves for his first win with the Bombers this season, while Lush took an L despite making 35 saves. Newly-minted Bomber captain Ben Lanferman was ejected from the game in the third period after dropping the gloves with La Ronge's Drayton Thunderchief.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night in La Ronge for the second half of a home-and-home series. The Bombers and Ice Wolves will face off nine more times this season.
