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.
As word has gotten out about the BombersÕ success in the pre-season, more and more fans have been making their way out to each game. Friday night saw the Bombers take on rivals the OCN Blizzard, with just shy of 700 people were on hand to see Flin Flon deface their opponents 6-2. Veteran Tommy Castonguay, who was on the roster for the night, says looking at this yearÕs group of hopefuls, he sees a strong defense Ð which has been the consensus of many on the team. ÒI think weÕre going to be better,Ó says Castonguay. ÒWeÕve got more experience in the back...and two great goalies.Ó The Rimouski, Que., native says with both Calvin Bartel and Carsen Chubak on the roster, either one can be the lead goalie for the night. ÒOur offence is still good,Ó he says, noting that Reid MacLeod, the SJHL scoring champ last year, is still on the team. ÒThere are lots of young guys (on the) offence, but (they are) still really good.Ó It might have only been the pre-season, but Castonguay says the team has already set a goal. Ò(Our goal) is to win a championship as much as last year,Ó says the forward. ÒWeÕve got a better defense and a younger offence, but (we are) still as good, if not better.Ó As a third-year vet for the team, Castonguay has seen his fair share of ice time. But it was the atmosphere that really pulled him back in for another year. ÒI come back because I love it,Ó he says. ÒI really like the Flin Flon Bomber organization Ð they treat us well.Ó And the forward hopes to continue with the Bombers until the end of his junior career. After FridayÕs game, the Bombers sat with a 3-0 record in their pre-season. ÒWe figured we would be 3-0,Ó says head coach and GM Mike Reagan. ÒWe expect to win every game at home.Ó With a record like that, the coach is pleased. ÒAnytime (you are) 3-0, (you have) to be happy,Ó he says. It may be early into the season, pre-season at that, but Reagan says the team is doing well. ÒThere is a lot of work (to do),Ó he says. ÒBut for the most part (we have) done pretty well for being such a young team.Ó With a schedule of five games in seven days, the team hasnÕt had much time to practice. But the exhibition games have given the coach a chance to see what he has on his team. With composure in the back end of the team, Reagan says the defense is the Òstrength of the team.Ó He sees the defence carrying the team for the beginning of the season, Òuntil the young guys mature up front.Ó But with that being said, Reagan is still pleased with the offence. ÒWe are scoring a lot of goals. They just donÕt know the system,Ó says the coach. ÒBut thatÕs expected (that) the young guys donÕt know (it).Ó Once the pre-season is over, the Bombers will have four days to practice before the home opener and then have another four days until the next game. One thing Reagan has noticed is the connection the team is having on the ice. ÒOur guys are starting to make line combinations and forming chemistry,Ó he says. Assistant coach Trevor Sack, new to the organization, says he is happy with how things are right now. ÒThere is real talent on the offensive side,Ó he says, Òand the defence, who we have shown in the last three games.Ó The following is a summary from Friday nightÕs game against the OCN Blizzard: For the first time in the pre-season action, the Bombers were scored on first. OCN opened the scoring early in the first period against Bill Pigden, making it 1-0. But the Bombers werenÕt going to stand by and take it as Devin Mitzner, assisted by Mitch Dougall, tied things up only two minutes later. And breaking that tie was Cole Gibson on a power play, after being fed by Tommy Castonguay and Alex Lamontagne, making it 2-1, for the Bombers. And just before the end of the first period, the Blizzard found the back of the net for their second and final goal of the night. Pigden stood between the pipes in the first period and had six shots come his way, while the Bombers fired off 13 shots to Po Lemieux. The second period had the Bombers opening fire with a power play goal Dougie MacLeod, assisted by Andrew Boire. With the score sitting at 3-2 for the Bombers, Mitzner kept OCN on their toes as he scored another goal for the Maroon and White. And to light the lantern one last time that period, Lamontagne made it past Lemieux making it 5-2. Switching things up in the second period, Chubak stepped in to guard the mesh for Pigden. In the second 20 minutes of play, the Bombers earned themselves another eight shots, while the Bomber goalies fought off six shots. The third period saw only one goal as the Bombers, on another power play, found the back of the net. Castonguay, after being fed by Harley Garrioch and Boire, earned the final goal, making it 6-2.
