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.
When both teams are in need of a win, itÕs sure to be an interesting game. That was the case Tuesday as the Flin Flon Bombers visited the Nipawin Hawks. Flin Flon was facing their second road game of the season, after a series of home games, and Nipawin was looking for their third win of the season. After a disappointing effort from the Maroon and White, according to head coach and GM Mike Reagan, the Hawks claimed that victory in their own barn. Two goals was enough for the Hawks as they defeated the Bombers 2-1. Flin Flon scored the first goal late in the first period, which held until the Hawks got on a powerplay in the second period. Six seconds later, the team had their first goal. And another powerplay came, and then another goal. Reagan said it was a frustrating loss. ÒHeading out on the road, you want the first one under your belt,Ó Reagan said in a phone interview after the game. The Bombers had control of the first period, but as the coach says, they ÒdidnÕt come to play in the second.Ó ÒWe were pretty good in the first. But we took the second period off and Nipawin got two powerplay goals.Ó With NipawinÕs two goals good enough for a win, Reagan said the home team was together that night. ÒThey are a good unit and were able to capitalize.Ó October has seen the Bombers follow a win, loss, win, loss pattern, which Reagan says he canÕt figure it out. ÒWe have a lack of consistency and I donÕt know why. ÒOne night we are beaters and the next night we look like weÕve never played hockey before. ItÕs extremely frustrating.Ó The coach says another frustrating aspect is that the team has potential but isnÕt reaching it. He says they have to work hard to get to there. Known for contending that Òa good team doesnÕt lose two nights in a row,Ó the coach says the Bombers were spending Wednesday trying to figure out how to fix their consistency problem. ÒWe havenÕt lost two games in a row this year so we have to bounce back tomorrow,Ó he says. And to bounce back, Reagan says the team has to Òcome to the rink and put in a full 60 minutes.Ó Speaking of 60 minutes, the Bombers and Hawks got play underway at the Centennial Arena before 524 fans. It started off good for the Bombers, who were hoping to add another win to their charts. Though Flin Flon outshot the hosts 33-29, they couldnÕt seal the deal. As for the shots on net, Reagan says itÕs typical for the hosts to have more shots than than the visitors. ÒAt home,Ó he says, Òyou play with a little extra jump. ÒTonight, we didnÕt dominate as we had been in the shots.Ó All said and done, Reagan, although frustrated with his own team, gave kudos to the Hawks. ÒI think Nipawin played a pretty decent game,Ó he says. ÒThey struggled in the first, but as the game went on, they got more and more confident.Ó And confidence is something the Bombers brought to Notre Dame the next night. After TuesdayÕs game the team had some more travel time ahead of them. ÒWe are going to go over some things and prepare for (the game) against Notre Dame,Ó said the coach. As Reagan harped on being consistent, he hoped to get the message across to the team. ÒWe have to get the guys to play hard every game,Ó he says. ÒWe have a young team and I think some guys take things for granted and expect their jobs are safe.Ó See 'Game' on pg. Continued from pg. The following is a game summary from TuesdayÕs game between the Bombers and the Hawks: Flin Flon was on their second road game of the season and the Hawks were looking for their third win. Going into the first period the Bombers held their own. It took some time, but Alex Lamontagne scored the teamÕs, and the gameÕs, first goal after being fed by Cole Gibson with less than two minutes left in the period. Nipawin was faced with the only penalty in the first period as Nick Neurauter was given two minutes for interference. The Bombers had their fair share of shots on net as the team fired off 14 on Kraymer Barnstable while Ryan Kerpan faced five. Power plays were not the BombersÕ friend as the Hawks scored both of their goals while the Maroon and White were shorthanded. Only six seconds into the man advantage, Christopher Nuerauter found the back of the net, with help from Taylor Thiessen and Jordan Miller just eight minutes into the period. And as quick as that powerplay was over, the Bombers were back in the box and the Hawks were back on a powerplay. The home teamÕs second goal brought lots of talk of whether the puck went in or not. As the goal judge called the ref over to say it was in, Reagan called the ref over to fight the goal. The Hawks were honoured with their second goal of the night. ÒItÕs a difficult call to make,Ó says Reagan. And though he hadnÕt had a chance to talk to Kerpan, he says the puck was on the goal line in the goalieÕs pads. ÒBut the goal judge said it was in. ItÕs a controversial goal, but thatÕs going to happen from time to time,Ó he said. ÒWe shouldnÕt have been in a situation where that goal would have mattered,Ó the coach said. The Hawks sat with a 2-1 win over the Bombers. After the game, Reagan said the team was thinking about WednesdayÕs game, but he didnÕt know how itÕs going to go. ÒIt depends on what team shows up,Ó he said. ÒThe guys arenÕt happy and we have to rebound. ÒIÕm expecting a better effort (Wednesday) night.Ó
