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.
Luck and consistency are two things the Flin Flon Bombers need. Tonight is the perfect time for both to fall into place as the Nipawin Hawks visit the Whitney Forum. This game is the beginning of a home and home series against a Hawks team with a 5-3-0-1 record. The Bombers are hoping to shake off the bad luck and inconsistency that haunts them as they aim to improve on their 1-7 record. Earning a win against Kindersley was important. Signs point to positive things as the Bombers have been able to play teams five on five, but it was their special teams that was a problem. That's not the case now. During the road trip, the powerplay was 3-18, while the penalty kill was an impressive 1-17. Unless the Hawks suddenly explode, their powerplay isn't something to fear as they are 4-53 while their penalty killing is 12-50. Luck isn't on the Bombers side, but confidence is, especially the way they played on the weekend, shutting out Kindersley 2-0 then making life difficult for the Battlefords' North Stars. Against the Stars, things changed like night and day after the Stars were awarded a penalty shot. "It was tough," Bombers coach Ryan Hoffman said Tuesday on the loss. "A questionable penalty shot I guess, but he's right on top of it. That was a huge momentum swinger in that game. "Battleford is arguably the most talented team in our league," he says. "When they get rolling, they're pretty tough to stop and that penalty shot goal kind of gave them the life they needed..." There is no doubt the Stars got lucky in that game as they couldn't put a penny by goalie Zane Kalemba, who put on a clinic during the weekend. In three games, the Bomber goalie allowed eight goals on 97 shots for an .917 save percentage. "We started the road trip with five straight periods of shutout hockey," Hoffman says on Kalemba's play. "We are happy with Zane and his play without question." Hoffman sees many positives from the weekend. One of them was the play from his backend. "Well I thought our rookie defensemen were exceptional," he says. "Myles Masse, Clay Weppler and Keelan Cook were probably our most consistent guys." However, he also stated that his veteran guys have to be better. Another positive is the toughness shown by younger players. "We were pretty physical all weekend, too, I thought," Hoffman said. "Kindersley has some tougher customers and a guy like Mackenzie Groenewegen will handle himself very well and, despite some stories that Battleford is overly physical and intimidating with us, that wasn't the case at all. I thought Kenton Staines stuck his nose in there and got it dirty for the first time this year and it was a pretty gritty performance." The Bomber coach believes his team physically dominated Battleford, especially the last half of the third game. Bomber forward Tyler Beachell said after practice that the team needs to put in 60 minutes. "This weekend will be a good test," Beachell says. "Guys must play their roles." Bomber injury notes: This weekend the team will be welcoming back Mike McKinna and Clayton Geiger from injuries. Blake Rolston isn't expected to be ready until next weekend as he has received physiotherapy treatment for his back. Also, goalie Travis Crickard isn't ready to play yet as his back is still healing. His back was hurt during the Saskatoon Showcase.
