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.
Desperate for bodies up front and on the back end, the Flin Flon Bombers were able to fill both needs thanks to the Battlefords' North Stars. The Bombers traded 1986 born forward Neil Kodman of Whitewood, SK to the Stars for 1987 born forward Dennis Kubat and 1986 born defenseman James Pasternak. Pasternak is a towering 6-4, 200 pound blueliner who had contributed two goals and four assists in 29 games with the Stars and Weyburn Red Wings. Kubat is a highly touted rookie who has scored four goals and 11 assists in 32 games. "Yeah, I'm happy about it," said Bombers coach-GM Doug Stokes. "Kubat adds offense and that's good." With Pasternak, the Bombers get versatility as he has played both forward and defense. On the SJHL website, Pasternak was listed as a forward for the Stars. Stokes intends to use him on the blueline, as the team had no extra defenseman with the loss of captain Blake McCullough for the year. The Stars, one player above the overage limit of nine 20-year-olds, also sent Rory Gregoire to the Bombers for future considerations as well as the rights to 1989 born list player Craig McCallum, who plays 'AAA' Midget in Battlefords. Stokes told The Reminder that he likes the offensive skill that Kubat and Gregoire bring as they also help with depth stating that "more bodies will bring accountability." Gregoire got off to a fast start with 10 points in his first 8 games. Various roster moves reduced his ice time and at the time of this trade, he has eight goals and 15 assists in 35 games with his hometown club. The North Stars and Bombers made the deals just moments before the January 10th trade deadline passed. In trading Kodman, the Bombers gave the Stars a former SJHL Rookie of the Year, who played 40 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season. He scored two goals and five assists. This story was written with files gathered from the SJHL website.
