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 broke their three-game losing streak with a win that elevated them to second place in the Itech Conference Wednesday night. On paper, the Bombers would have had the Battlefords North Stars beat in a minute Ð but they took their time as they hosted the Stars for their weekday match. It was a slow start for the Bombers, but they came back from trailing 2-0 to win 3-2 Ð which also bumped them up over the Melfort Mustangs for second place. After last weekÕs disappointing road trip, WednesdayÕs game was a must-win for the Bombers. Playing their second of only three home games in December, the Maroon and White came out looking to help their home record. ÒWeÕve struggled in the last two or three weeks,Ó says head coach and GM Mike Reagan, noting that teamÕs power play has been up and down. ÒWe are 2-11 on the power plays...but we still struggle. ÒItÕs frustrating,Ó he says. ÒWe have the guys who can capitalize on the opportunities....and in practice we look great, but when it comes to game time, we really struggle.Ó Wednesday night saw the Bombers starting off slowly but scoring their first two goals, in the second period, on power plays. Ryan Kerpan started off in net for the Bombers, but wasnÕt on his game and was replaced in the second period by Matt Weninger, who was strong and didnÕt let anything past him. The Bombers managed 36 shots throughout the game, with the Flin Flon goalies seeing a combined 29 shots. A win for the team was crucial as they were falling behind in a slump. ÒIt was huge,Ó says Reagan. ÒWe moved into second place, which is where we feel we should be. ÒAnd, we ended a three-game losing streak.Ó According to the coach, the stronger teams are able to end their losing streaks quickly, and it seems, the Bombers have done so. As the team sits in second place, they still have three games at hand over the Melfort Mustangs. ÒWe havenÕt played as many games as the other teams,Ó Reagan says, noting that being in second place counts right now. ÒWould we have liked to have been here (in second place) earlier?Ó he asks. ÒYeah, but the main thing is that we are in second now.Ó Coming up tonight and tomorrow, the Bombers have two Òvery importantÓ games against the Mustangs, which will once again help determine the fate of the team. Tonight, the teams face off in the Whitney Forum, where the Bombers are looking to further improve their record. ÒWe havenÕt had success at home like we did last year,Ó says Reagan. ÒItÕs important to get better. ÒYouÕve got to win games at home,Ó he says. The following is a game summary from WednesdayÕs game between the Bombers and the North Stars: It was a slow start for the Bombers, who played their second of three home games in December. A late first period goal by the North Stars broke open the scoring as they got the puck past Kerpan on a power play. As the score sat 1-0 for the visitors, the Bombers tried from the get-go in the second period to tie things up. But the North Stars made it to the net first, getting past Kerpan on another power play Ð making it 2-0. As Kerpan left the game and Weninger took his place, the Bombers were hungry for a goal. It was Tommy Castonguay who scored for the Maroon and White, on a power play, with help from Alex Lamontagne and Reid MacLeod just after the five-minute mark. The score sat at 2-1, but not for very long. It was a strong line for the Bombers as MacLeod got past the North Stars, this time with help from Lamontagne and Castonguay Ð also on a power play. The teamÕs second goal followed a disallowed goal by the Bombers, as the whistle was blown before the puck went into the net. But the team bounced back and earned their second goal. As for scoring, it was all over in the second period; as for penalties, it was the opposite. See 'Number' on pg. Continued from pg. Both teams were given a number of penalties throughout the game and second period. The Bombers were given calls on unsportsmanlike conduct, elbowing, hooking, kneeing, holding the stick and tripping, while the North Stars were in for hooking, interference, boarding, elbowing, holding, slashing and a bench penalty. As the third period got into action with the game tied at two, the teams were looking for that go-ahead goal anyway they could get it. With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Bomber Josh Garneau found his way to the net, with help from MacLeod and Tanner Korchinski, for the teamÕs third goal. And that last goal carried the team to the end Ð giving them the win they needed to move up in the standings. The Bombers host the Mustangs tonight before heading to Melfort tomorrow for a game. With four games in five days coming up, Reagan says he is hoping for a split road trip. ÒItÕs going to be a tough road trip,Ó he says. ÒItÕs important to get those four points for sure, but if we can get more, we will definitely take them.Ó
