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 first game of the season didn't go the way the Bombers had planned as they came out of Melfort empty-handed Friday night. With a 4-2 lead in the second period, Flin Flon was beat 7-4 by Melfort in the Mustangs' home opener. But Saturday night was a different story as the Bombers hosted the Mustangs in their home opener at the Whitney Forum. Things started off rough for the Bombers as they were down 2-0 in the first 1:32 of play, but the Maroon and White came back to win 5-4. Head coach and GM Mike Reagan acknowledges the rough starts the team has been having in both the preseason and now the regular season. Saturday night's game was no different as the Bombers, with new names on the roster, had 1,400 fans to play for. Reagan says when it came down to it, nerves got the best of the team. He says being nervous and having a rough start is something the team is going to have to work on. "But I would rather that than have another problem," says the coach. The Bombers were able to find their legs in the second period and come back with a few big goals Ð something the Mustangs didn't have. All four of the visitors' goals came from bad bounces. The Bombers played their back-to-back games and were able to split the weekend as well as the start of their season. "It showed a lot of character," says Reagan, noting that in Friday's game part of the team gave up Ð but not in Saturday's game. "We came to play where we didn't (Friday) night," he said. The team "folded the tent in the third" of Friday's game, which gave the Mustangs the upper hand and goals they needed to win. Comparing Friday and Saturday's games, the Mustangs were able to score early on both nights. Reagan was able to get through to his team Saturday night to let them know there was a lot of hockey left to be played. His intermission spiel seemed to make a difference for the Bombers as they came out and scored three of their five goals over the Mustangs. "I tried to stay as positive as I could," says Reagan, even though frustration had got to him. "I felt bad for goalie (Matt) Weninger and the team," he says. "There were bad bounces and (the goals) were not his fault." Weninger stayed the rest of the game in net as he knocked away 36 shots from the Mustangs, from start to finish. Coming Up The Bombers have a few days off before their next games as they won't be playing until this coming Friday and Saturday Ð with the La Ronge Ice Wolves in town both nights. During the week, Reagan says they will be working on different parts of their game. "There is a lot of work to do," he says, noting the team will be working on their power play, which did look good in practice. "There is a lot of information to take in in the first game of the season," he says. With the players in mind, especially the rookies, he says they are going to have to work on their timing and get everyone on the same page. Taking the last two games into consideration, the Bombers were hoping to sit with a 5-0 record for the end of September, but now Reagan says 4-1 is the new goal. Making small goals is nothing new to the Bombers. "It helps to keep the guys focused," says Reagan. Keeping focused was key during Saturday night's game and Devin Mitzner was able to do just that. With four goals credited to his name, the Strathmore, Alta., native says though he put some pucks in the net, it's all about winning as a team. "We came together and moved as a team," said Mitzner. Starting the game off the team was nervous, but the forward says Reagan's talk helped to calm things down. "It was a little shaky, but we had time," says Mitzner. Having a pep talk during the intermission is helpful, says Mitzner. "It helps a lot to know how other people see it." The Bombers host the Ice Wolves on Friday and Saturday before heading to Nipawin on Wednesday, September 30 to face the Hawks,
