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 made their way back into second place in the Itech Conference after defeating Melfort in their own barn last Saturday night. With a loss at their backs, the Bombers went in looking for the two points they so needed. Their hunger and determination helped the team to a 4-1 win over the Mustangs. According to Bomber head coach and GM Mike Reagan, the team took home an important two points. ÒWe had to respond from the night before,Ó says Reagan. ÒWe played a good hockey game on Friday and I give credit to Melfort for a good road game.Ó With that said, Reagan says the team come out in full force Saturday night. ÒAnd we were able to,Ó he says. ÒThe guys shows real character.Ó As Reagan saw it, Friday was a tough loss but Òthe guys came to play Saturday night and played a great road game.Ó ItÕs hard to predict how things will go in any game, but Reagan says they always Òhope the guys come out and play a solid...game.Ó But as the statistics have shown, the Bombers have been a little inconsistent this season Ð which adds frustration on and off the ice. Reagan says he never knows Òwhat team is going to show up night in and night out.Ó And the Bombers were going to be put to the test with four road games in five nights starting Tuesday. ÒI think we (have go to) look at the first two games,Ó says the coach. ÒThat determines the road trip.Ó As the boys were in La Ronge Tuesday night and Battlefords Wednesday night, Reagan says itÕs important to get the points early on. ÒIt determines the momentum (for the next night),Ó he says. ÒIt builds confidence early and takes off some of the pressure.Ó After losing to the Mustangs at home on Friday, the pressure was on the Bombers to vindicate themselves the next night. Reagan had said this would make Òsure we come out with a solid effort.Ó And they did. With a good game under their belts, the Bombers moved on to tackle La Ronge Tuesday. After their four-game road trip ends tomorrow, the Bombers will head home for Christmas break. Reagan says the anticipation of the break would be the teamÕs biggest challenge. ÒThe guys want to get home. ÒAnd I think if any team needs a break, itÕs us,Ó he says, noting the teamÕs injuries. ÒI think the challenge is going to be to stay focused on the four games and not worry about the break until after SaturdayÕs game,Ó he adds. The following is a summary of SaturdayÕs game between the Bombers and the Mustangs: Things started off with a goal from Melfort early on as Kevin Knopp got past Matt Weninger, but 10 minutes later, the Bombers tied things up with a goal from Devin Mitzner, assisted by Josh Garneau. That score didnÕt stick around for long as Bomber Dan Lind found the back of the net with help from Doug McLeod and Mitch Dougall, to break the tie and pull ahead to 2-1. A few penalties were called in the first period, including Reid MacLeod, who was sent to the bin for checking from behind and handed a game misconduct. The Bombers fired off five shots Ð two of which went in Ð and the Mustangs firing off 11 to Weninger, 10 of which he stopped. After the intermission, the boys were back on the ice and making their presence apparent as Dominic Martel scored Flin FlonÕs third goal, with help from Tommy Castonguay, near the two-minute mark. With the score 3-1 for the Bombers, the Mustangs were unable to get any of their seven shots past Weninger, while the Bombers fired off another six. Come the third period, the Bombers kept their scoring going as Castonguay, assisted by Jean-Sebastien Bergeron, earned the teamÕs fourth goal late in the period. With a score of 4-1, the Bombers not only earned their two points back from the night before, but moved back up to second place in the Itech Conference. The Bombers went on to play La Ronge Tuesday night, where they walked away winners with a 2-1 victory.
