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.
Flin Flon Bombers coach-GM Doug Stokes feels there's no flow or rhythm to the game. He expressed that sentiment following the Bombers' 3-1 loss against the Dauphin Kings in Dauphin at Credit Union Place on Tuesday. Stokes doesn't have a sour taste in his mouth from losing, but from the penalties being called in the Canadian Hockey Association's attempt to improve the game like the NHL. "I know it sounds repetitive, but it's a fact Ð you just can't take the amount of penalties we're taking in games and be successful," Stokes explained, as his team was in the box for roughly 15 penalties. Statistics on penalties were not made available by the SJHL. "I thought the refereeing was somewhat inconsistent tonight," Stokes continued. "I'm not disputing any of the calls on us, but I really didn't think he called a lot of things on them that could have been called." The only other problem in this final exhibition game was the lack of finish by the Bombers. Mackenzie Groenewegen opened the scoring 3:46 into the second with Justin Klassen and Sean McNaulty collecting assists. During the opening period, the Bombers had three good chances in the first 10 minutes, including two goal posts. Bomber forward Mike McKinna isn't concerned. "It's still early. It's only exhibition and the team isn't finalized yet," McKinna explained after the game. "Once we get our lines set and Doug starts working the systems with us, we'll get it back and we'll get all the monkeys off our back and we'll be scoring." See 'Bombers' P.# Con't from P.# With the season starting today, McKinna is confident about the team. "We got a lot of depth and we have four very solid lines," he added. "Our rookies this year, they just know how to play hockey. Overall we have some really young guys out here who come from all across Canada. Doug did a really good job of scouting and they can take any one of our spots. We got to battle for every spot on the ice." Between the pipes, Calvin Bartel allowed one goal in 30 minutes, while Travis Crickard allowed two. "I thought Travis struggled a little bit. The one goal the guy really didn't even shoot it, it just sort of rolled off his stick and Travis has to get his game back in order," Stokes explained. "It looks like he's fighting the puck a little bit. I didn't see that all training camp. I thought he had an outstanding training camp and you need some saves at opportune times." With the Bombers beginning the regular season today, final roster decisions were made yesterday after press time. The first game at the Whitney Forum will be tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
