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.
After a split with the Kindersley Klippers last weekend and what the Flin Flon Bombers are hoping is the turning point of the season, the team finds itself in a must-win situation against the Battlefords North Stars this weekend. The Bombers will host the North Stars for games on Friday and Saturday, and couldn't be facing a hotter team. The North Stars haven't lost a game since October 16, after acquiring goaltender Dustin MacDonald. They are 4-0-1 during this span, and MacDonald has been nearly unbeatable with a goals against average of 1.07 and a save percentage of 0.961. Flin Flon has made a few changes of their own, bringing in Andrew Leslie, Donovan Hall, Dale Pettit and Mike Natale over the last two weeks. Hall will see his first action as a Bomber this weekend, playing on the Andrew Skrabek line. With three goaltenders in town, it is uncertain whether or not Pettit will see action this weekend or not, but the chances are good, as the young netminder was brought in to challenge both Francois Laverdiere and Micheal Pilote. Pettit went undefeated in three games with the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL, with a record of 2-0-1, a save percentage of .922 and a goals against average of 2.59. This weekend, the Bombers will have to work a little harder in their own end, and spread out their goal scoring, getting contributions from anyone and everyone. The Bombers had trouble moving the puck through the neutral zone last weekend, and they seem to be getting all their goals from the same people, although it is a different line that contributes on any given night. Staying out of the penalty box is also a key if Flin Flon wants to be successful. On Saturday, Richard Dupre was a contributor, putting up three points in a 5-3 loss against Kindersley, including his first SJHL goal. "It's pretty sweet being a local boy, dreaming about putting that Bomber uniform on," said Dupre. "Getting that first goal in front of everyone, with about a thousand people in the barn, it's pretty exciting. You dream about that as a little kid, and now it came true. It was long awaited." Dupre has had a week to savor the goal, but says that the team is ready to battle hard again this weekend, as the Bombers trail the North Stars by nine points in the standings. "Because Battleford is one spot ahead of us, we've got some ground to make up," he said. "Nine points is quite a few, but these are four point games each time we play them. Every win we get against them is one less win than they can get, and one more game in their games played column. It's going to be a big weekend." Teammate Bradey Fidierchuk agrees. "This weekend, we have to work hard at both ends of the ice," said the native of Cranberry Portage. "I think we showed we can do that last weekend against Kindersley in the first game. In the second game, we did fairly well, but we can't get behind early like we have been lately. We just have to play safe, and make sure that puck gets out of our zone." Two wins this weekend would leave the Bombers just five points behind the North Stars, and possibly the Mustangs, too, as Melfort has tough games against Kindersley and La Ronge this weekend. Heading into tonight's games, Flin Flon trails both the Mustangs and the North Stars by nine points. Head on down to the Whitney Forum Friday and Saturday to cheer on the team and welcome the new players to the Whitney Forum. Game time both nights is 7:30 p.m.
