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.
The Flin Flon Bombers put a disappointing January behind them as they came out in full force Saturday night to kick off February. The Weyburn Red Wings were in town and the Bombers wouldnÕt accept anything but a win in their own barn. The Maroon and White doubled up on the Sherwood ConferenceÕs top team 4-2 in front of nearly 900 fans at the Whitney Forum. Before the first puck drop of the night, Weyburn head coach Dwight McMillan was congratulated and presented with a plaque from Bomber President Hank Kosar to commemorate his 1,000th win as a coach the night before against the La Ronge Ice Wolves. And as Kosar said, the team wishes McMillan a few more wins, but not that night. And with that being said, the Bombers didnÕt let the Red Wings get past them all night. Carsen Chubak was in net for the Bombers and he was on fire during the night as he held his shutout until the start of the second period. Throughout the game Chubak had 25 shots come his way while the Bombers almost doubled up on the Red Wings again. Flin Flon came out with 46 shots on AJ Whiffen. Bomber Barrett Penner showed up for Saturday night as he scored two of the teamÕs goals and had an assist on another. Cole Wilson also helped out with two goals, as did Harley Garrioch. Anyone who has been to the Whitney Forum for a game as noticed the noise level during a game. It doesnÕt matter who is playing, the noise level is there. Assistant Coach Clayton Quinn says itÕs just the way the Whitney works. ItÕs loud and those playing know where they are. ÒItÕs the Whitney,Ó says Quinn, adding that with only a few home games left, Òwe have to win every game.Ó And Saturday was a good start for the team as Barrett Penner got the ball rolling with a goal less than three minutes into the game. It was Harley Garrioch and Cole Wilson helping out as Penner found the back of the net behind Whiffen for an early lead. The Bombers held their 1-0 lead for the first period as the Bombers were un able to get any of their six shots past Chubak. The first period also only saw two penalties, both to the Red Wings, as Mick Pawlyshyn was called on hooking and Erick Ruud was given two minutes for roughing after the whistle. With the firs period down and the score sitting at 1-0 for the Bombers, the Red Wings would soon break ChubakÕs shutout as Luke Johnson found the back of the net after only 36 seconds of play. With the score tied at one, the Bombers werenÕt willing to give up as Matt Dyck came in for his second goal of the season. Wilson was on his second assist of the night as Penner helped out as well, giving Flin Flon a 2-1 lead just six minutes later. And the Red Wings were back on the wagon as they got another one past Chubak, making it 2-2 in middle of the second period with an unassisted goal by Josh Bray. And with a little more than two minutes left in the period, Penner found his second goal of the night with help from Garrioch and Tommy Castonguay. The Bombers left the ice with a 3-2 lead over the visiting Red Wings after another 18 shots on net while Chubak faced another nine shots. The second 20 minutes of play was calm as far as the penalties that were called went. Penner found himself behind the glass for roughing after the whistle while Jean Sebastien Bergeron was sentenced to two minutes for hooking. But it was Red Wing Bray who really shook things up as he was given six minutes in the box Ð two minutes for hooking and four minutes for spearing. And although the Bombers were on a power play for six minutes, the home team was unable to score. But the third period would change that as Dustyn Clegg scored the gameÕs final goal of the night late in the period with an empty net, unassisted, goal. The third period saw the Bombers shoot another 16 shots on Whiffen while Chubak faced 10. And as Quinn says, the game was a big confidence booster for the guys. The Red Wings Òare a tough team to beat,Ó he says. ÒBut the guys played the puck well and didnÕt let the standings get in the way.Ó While Weyburn may be the top team in the Sherwood Conference, the Bombers were able to beat them 7-2 the last time they were here. And although the score wasnÕt as high, the Bombers got their win out of it. ÒWe know they are the top team, but weÕre not going to back off. You have to respect them, but not respect them so much that it gets in the way of the game,Ó says Quinn. With Weyburn coach McMillanÕs 1,000th career win under his belt, Quinn says, they knew it was coming and they had been preparing for it during practice. Once McMillan got his win in La Ronge the night before, the Bombers hadnÕt changed their game plan. And as for yesterdayÕs game, Quinn said after the game, ÒweÕre hoping to carry this high into TuesdayÕs game against Yorkton.Ó The regular season is coming to end for the SJHL, but Quinn says the team still has a goal in mind. ÒOur goal is to get into third placeÓ for the playoffs, he notes. In February the team has eight games, and Quinn says he would like to see them walk away with a win each night, but they need seven of the eight wins. See 'Around' on pg. Continued from pg. And with the playoffs just around the corner, Quinn says, Òyou always have to be thinking about the Selection series.Ó In the playoffs the top three teams are guaranteed to play four games, plus others, whereas the fourth place teams have to play against each other and can be knocked out of the series. The Selection series would also give the Bombers the chance to choose who they wish to play. But Quinn says that decision hasnÕt been made on the teamÕs part yet. Saturday night saw the Bombers take control of the game against the Red Wings, which Quinn says had a lot of blocked shots, among other things. TuesdayÕs game against the Yorkton Terriers, which will be featured in FridayÕs paper, had the team ready to play. ÒAll we want to do it play. The last time it was a though loss,Ó he says, adding that the Bombers threw away two points from a late goal. Aside from the battle between the teams, two of the Bombers have their own battle going on as Calvin Bartel and Chubak are both trying to win their spot between the pipes. ÒThey are trying to prove to Reagan and me,Ó says Quinn, Ò(that) there can only be one goalie in at a time.Ó But the assistant coach reassures, the battle is strictly a healthy one. ÒWhen they bring their best game itÕs not easy on us to pick,Ó he says, adding that itÕs important to be able to pick either goalie and feel confident. The Bombers hit the ice tomorrow for a game against the Melfort Mustangs at the Whitney Forum.
