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 pressure was on as the Flin Flon Bombers prepared to take on the Melville Millionaires for a double-header weekend at the Whitney Forum. But the team didnÕt get off to a great start as the Millionaires got past the home team four times in the first period, with the Bombers only scoring once. Though the Bombers picked their game up, but it wasnÕt enough for a win as Melville earned two more goals, making it 6-5 for the win. Flin Flon left the ice with a good effort in the end but no points. Nearly 1,000 fans were on hand to see the team get defeated in the first of two games against the Millionaires. And though the team came out flat in the first period, they picked up the pace for the second and third and came close to extending the game to overtime, which could have given the Bombers that sixth goal for the win. But Melville earned a late goal in the third, sealing their victory. ÒWe were kinda like a deer caught in the headlights,Ó assistant coach Trevor Sack said, referring to the first period. ÒMelville came out with a flying start.Ó Sack says the Bombers havenÕt seen a team play this caliber of hockey since the Humboldt Broncos. ÒHats off to them for the effort,Ó says Sack, giving kudos to Melville. ÒWe needed a better effort and it just came a little too late.Ó Both the team and the fans were happy to see forward Reid McLeod back on the ice as a full-time player. He slowly made his way back onto the ice after an injury by playing only powerplays, but head coach and GM Mike Reagan had him playing full-time in FridayÕs game. ÒIt feels good to be back on the ice,Ó McLeod said. ÒIÕm a bit out of game shape, but IÕm practicing...and I hope it doesnÕt last too long.Ó McLeod agrees with Sack that the team came out weak in the first period, but says they had a good comeback in the second and third. The following is a summary of FridayÕs game between the Bombers and Millionaires: The Maroon and White were off to a rough start as the Millionaires got the scoring starting in the first 26 seconds of the game. Calvin Bartel was in net for the Bombers, but couldnÕt quite get the hang of it for the game. The Millionaires got past him again six minutes later, making it 2-0. And a few minutes later they made it to three before the Bombers were able to get past Travis Bosch for their first goal of the game. With help from Tommy Castonguay, Cole Wilson scored the teamÕs first goal, which seems to be a pattern Ð Wilson scoring the teamÕs first goal of the game. By the look on the teamÕs face, it was a bit of a relief to not only break the visiting teamÕs shut out, but to get into the game. But with 17 seconds left in the first period, Melville got past Bartel for the fourth time, on a power play Ð making Reagan pull Bartel and put in Ryan Kerpan for the remainder of the game. With the first period leaving the Millionaires with a 4-1 lead over the Bombers, the Maroon and White came flying out of the gate in the second period Ð looking like a whole new team. Kerpan was unstoppable as Melville couldnÕt get past him with their eight shots on net. But it was another story for the Bombers as they got two of their 19 shots past Bosch. It was his first game back as a full-time player and he made it a good one as Reid McLeod scored his first goal of the season, with help from Castonguay and Wilson. Veteran Brennan Cox scored the teamÕs third goal, with help from McLeod, bringing the score a little closer. And along with two goals, the Bombers and Millionaires faced a few penalties as the home team was in for hooking and interference, while the visitors were in for tripping and high sticking. With a score of 4-3, the Bombers and Millionaires were at it again for the third period. Both teams wanted and needed this win Ð but the Millionaires were able to take it from the Bombers as they added a few more goals to the scoresheet. The Bombers got things going first with a goal just before the three minute mark on the clock with a shot from Ben Bitz after being fed by Dominic Martel and Matt Lecours. Lighting the lantern next for the team was newcomer David Lawrence, after getting the puck from McLeod and Michael Young. It was becoming a closer and closer game every minute. And with a score of 5-4 for the Bombers, the fans were getting into the game even more. The team came back from being down 4-1 in the first period, but Melville still had some kick in their game as they got past Kerpan for the first time, tying it at five goals apiece. And just as the fans were warming up to the idea of overtime, Melville earned their final goal of the game, giving them a 6-5 win over the home team. The BomberÕs outshot the Millionaires 39-20. The Bombers and Millionaires faced off Saturday night where the home team took what was theirs and cashed in on the team with a score of 4-1.
