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.
It was an even number trade for the Flin Flon Bombers as they said good-bye to four players and welcomed four to their club. Following the December 1 trade deadline, Devin Mitzner, Jeff Lorenz, Patrick Howey and Shane Goodrunning no longer called the Bombers their organization. Mitzner, of Strathmore, AB, moved on to play with the Estevan Bruins while Brody Haygarth joined the Maroon and White. Playing for the Bombers this season, Mitzner was able to earn 23 goals in 28 games with 15 assists, giving him 38 points. Flin Flon head coach and GM Mike Reagan says while the forward, standing at 5'10" and weighing in at 190 lbs, was putting up points, there "were some issues that (had) come up in the last little while." "The team comes first and (I) had to do what (was) best for the team," said Reagan, adding that Mitzner did not see eye to eye with him. "(I) felt it was best Devin moved on and we moved on without him as well." Coming in to fill the shoes of Mitzner, Haygarth, of Estevan, SK, brings speed to the team. "He's totally a different type of player," said the coach, noting the forward has a great work ethic. "He's fast...and one of the purest skaters in the league," Reagan said. Reagan says Haygarth comes to the team with great hands and is someone who is able to put the puck in the net. Haygarth, who stands 5'8" and weighs 168 lbs, should, according to Reagan, have made Team Canada West team last year if he did not break his wrist. Joining the team, Haygarth comes with 27 points in 29 games Ð 13 goals and 14 assists. Also leaving the Bombers is Goodrunning, of Rocky Mountain House, AB, who gave opponents a run for their money as he dropped the gloves a time or two. Goodrunning, standing at 5'10" and weighing in at 165 lbs, was traded to the the MJHL's Waywayseecappo Wolverines in exchange for defenceman Brentt Becker. As well as gaining Goodrunning, the Wolverines earned future considerations. Becker adds further depth to a Bomber roster that Reagan said was already deep. Goodrunning leaves the Bombers with one goal and zero assists in 19 games. The Bombers also made a deal with Nipawin as defenceman Taylor Thiessen, of Prince Albert, SK, will dress in Maroon and White while Jeff Lorenz, of Lloydminster, SK, and Patrick Howey, of Calgary, have become Hawks. Thiessen, standing at 5'9" and weighing 165 lbs, comes to the Bombers with 12 goals and 13 assists in 28 games for 25 points this season. Leaving the Bombers, Lorenz, standing at 6'3" and weighing 205 lbs, will bring four goals and eight assists in 26 games, for a total of 12 points, to the Hawks. Howey, standing at 6'0" and weighing 175 lbs, has three points to his name with one goal and two assists in 22 games this season. Having Thiessen join the Bomber organization, Reagan says, gives the team another defensive player who can play offensively. "That will provide depth and experience," he said. "He's a very offensive-minded defenceman. "He's an all-star caliber defenceman," he said. Bringing up the end of the trades, the Bombers are also acquiring Derek Ginnell, the grandson of Paddy Ginnell, the late former coach and manager of the Bombers. Growing up in Flin Flon, Reagan said Derek understands the history of the club and knows their traditions. Derek comes to the Bombers with 15 points Ð eight goals and seven assists Ð in 11 games in the Northwest Junior Hockey League.
