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 rang in the new year with a split against the Nipawin Hawks. The Hawks were ready to play on Friday night, as they beat the Bombers 5-3 in Nipawin, while the Bombers rode Troy Ciernia's hot glove on Saturday in Flin Flon to a 2-0 shutout win. On Friday in Nipawin, the Bombers blew a glorious opportunity to gain some ground on the Hawks, as they came out flat to start the new year. The Bombers spotted the Hawks three goals in the first period, and were out shot 15-5 in the process. Alex Cote opened the scoring at 3:09, while Josh Belair scored at 10:00 and Barrett Zelinski added one at 14:41. The Bombers came to life in the second period with a pair of power-play markers. Simon McCusker scored from Anatoliy Moshkovsky and Andrew Skrabek at 7:05, and Kyle Holmes scored his second of the season at 8:31 with Derek Gallagher and Stewart Sjoberg assisting. The Hawks added two goals to Flin Flon's one in the third period to extend their lead. Jaydyn Murray scored for Nipawin at 5:14 to make it a 4-2 game. Saskatoon Midget 'AAA' call-up David Holinaty brought the Bombers to within one goal of the Hawks at 5:57, with assists going to Tyler Stinton and Clayton Geiger, but Murray's second of the game at 7:11 on a power play restored Nipawin's two-goal lead. Nipawin out shot Flin Flon 37-32 in the game, scoring one power-play goal on six chances, while the Bombers scored two power-play goals on eight tries. On Saturday, Troy Ciernia was by far the best player on the ice, as he stopped 35 shots to record the first Bomber shutout of the season. A couple of bad clearing attempts in the first period by the Bomber defence gave the Hawks some excellent scoring chances, but Ciernia bailed them out each time. The Bombers were out shot 14-8 in the first period, and the game remained scoreless through the end of the second period as well, where the Bombers out shot the Hawks 13-10. Derek Gallagher broke the goose egg at 2:23 of the third period, scoring his first even-strength goal of the season from Tyler Stinton and John Iron. Jeff LaPointe's point shot beat goaltender Dan Bauer cleanly along the ice for a power-play goal at 9:59, with Andrew Skrabek and Joey Moggach assisting. The Hawks pulled the goaltender with over a minute to play, but to no avail for either team, as the game ended in a 2-0 Bomber victory. Flin Flon was out shot 35-31, but scored one power-play goal on six chances, keeping the Hawks scoreless on their six man-advantages. Over 900 fans took in the action, braving the -30 C weather to watch some good hockey. With the split, there was nothing lost, nothing gained for the Bombers, who are chasing the Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Dodge Conference. Flin Flon remains three points behind Nipawin, who have one game in hand. See 'Fifth' P.# Con't from P.# The Bombers are currently in fifth place in the Dodge, ahead of La Ronge and Melfort, with three games in hand over both teams. The Ice Wolves are in danger of dropping into the Dodge basement, as they are winless in their last 11 contests and are just two points ahead of Melfort. Flin Flon is also within striking distance of the fourth spot in the Sherwood conference, thanks to the crossover rule. The Bombers would have to catch Estevan, who are in fourth place with 34 points in 38 games. The Bombers have 29 points in 36 games. The Bombers will have the rest of the week to prepare for the Notre Dame Hounds, who occupy the basement of the Sherwood Conference. The Hounds are just 2-7-1 in their last ten games, while the Bombers have won four of their last five games at home. Notre Dame and Flin Flon will do battle at the Whitney Forum on Friday and Saturday.
