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 showed fans what they were made of Saturday night as they doubled up on the Melfort Mustangs 8-4 for their home opener. Following a 4-3 victory in Melfort the night before, the Bombers made sure Mustangs coach Darrell Mann and the rest of the team knew who the Whitney Forum belonged to. The team started Saturday's game off strong as they dominated in the first two periods before hitting a lull in the third period. Cam Blair started the scoring for Flin Flon in the first period at the 12:46 mark. Earning the second goal of the game, new captain Ryan Fox was on his game with a shot past Jesse Ehnisz just two minutes later. Scoring in the second period got going as Patrick Sitko found the back of the net on a power play nearly eight minutes in. The team's fourth goal Ð getting the crowd going even more Ð came from Corey Tyrell almost three minutes after Sitko's. The Mustangs made it on the board with a goal against PJ Musico at 12:36. And to round out the second period, at 19:13, Stefen Virtannen earned a marker from the blueline. Trailing 5-1 at the end of the second, the Mustangs attempted a comeback with three goals in the third. But lighting the lantern for the Bombers were Jesse Mychan, Danny Merth and Jonathon Young. The Bombers were able to maintain their lead and pull off a win, but head coach and GM Mike Reagan said it was frustrating to watch. "I was disappointed with the way we played the third period," he said. Following a game in which Flin Flon let in four goals, Reagan said a team has to be there for its goaltender. Musico "didn't have a chance on any of those shots," said the coach. "They were all screened. "We had chances to get pucks out and didn't." Still, the team managed to win its second in a row and spark plenty of optimism for the 2010-11 campaign. "I think our vets played very well. I'm happy with the way they played," said Reagan. "They've come in here with the right attitude and it's been really good." The coach is excited about where the returning players are at mentally. But it wasn't a mentally strong game for everyone. Returning from Melfort the night before, the Bombers' bus broke down, leaving them unable to return to Flin Flon until 9:30 Saturday morning. "I wasn't sure where we were going to be mentally, because we were tired, but it's too bad," said Reagan. "I think we would have played really well if we weren't so tired." The Bombers fought through fatigue and were still able to double up on the visiting Mustangs. Yet Reagan says when it came to Musico, the netminder needed more help. "He was so good for us (Friday) night and then tonight he made some big saves when he needed to," said Reagan. "And then for the guys to just pack it in in the third because we're up by four goals, that's unacceptable." With the majority of the players on the ice rookies, the coach says it's a young team that is still learning. Watching the game, Reagan said it was the younger guys who weren't getting the pucks out that led to Melfort's goals. "That's frustrating, but at the same time, we know that they (have) to learn," he said. "Hopefully, they'll get better. "It's a young team and there are growing pains." Difficulties On Friday night, the Bombers visited the Mustangs and skated away with a 4-3 win. But they had to do so without one of their top players, Patrick Sitko. Saturday night, the Bombers were forced to play their home opener against the Mustangs minus Andrew Johnson, another top returning player. The Bombers' home opener came with lots of hype as 1,332 fans were out to watch. Spectators were everywhere. Before the game, Reagan did his best to calm down the team. "I think the guys were excited and nervous," he said. "We tried to tell them that it's just another game Ð don't worry about it." That's sometimes easier said than done, but the coach told the team not to "get too nervous" and to "just go out there and play the game." See 'This' on pg. Continued from pg. The Bombers are following up the weekend with nearly a week of practice. The Maroon and White won't face off until this weekend when the Weyburn Red Wings are in town for a double-header. The Bombers will spend their break working on their power play as well as chipping pucks out of their zone. Flin Flon earned two power play goals Saturday, but Reagan said it wasn't anything "pretty." "We weren't moving the puck nicely," he said. "It's going to take some time for the guys to get used to each other out there." The coach says all of the Bombers' systems need work. "But we're a lot better then we were last week," he said. "You can really tell that we've had three days to practice." Gearing up for the Red Wings, Reagan thinks it's going to be an exciting weekend. "Usually, Weyburn and Flin Flon have pretty good games. So it'll be exciting to go up against them again," he said. "They should be a pretty good team and hopefully we're a little better next week as well."
