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.
Although there were only 1,002 fans at the Whitney Forum Thursday night for game four of the Semi-Final series between the Bombers and the Melfort Mustangs, there was enough noise in the rink to easily convince people there were 2,000 or more in the crowd. With one of the most intense games of the season so far, the fans were showing their appreciation, and their anger, as the Bombers stole the win in overtime 6-5 from the visiting Mustangs. Calvin Bartel was back in net for the Bombers and it was Ilia Ejov in for the Mustangs. The first two games had Bartel getting back-to-back shutouts, while the third game had Ejov earning one himself. But Thursday nightÕs game was anything but a shutout as the scoring started in the first period and didnÕt end until overtime. The Bombers sat with a comfortable lead of 4-1 going into the third period, but Melfort had another plan, as they werenÕt going to sit back and let the Bombers take a win easily. Cheers and horns could be heard throughout the rink, but also calls of ÒWe want a ref,Ó from the majority of the crowd. The fans were less than pleased with the calls being made, which they felt were one-sided in favour of the Mustangs. With the score going from a comfortable lead of 4-1 to overtime with a 6-5 win, head coach and GM Mike Reagan said after the game that maybe their problem was being too comfortable. ÒIt might have been the problem having that lead early on,Ó says Reagan, adding that Òyou canÕt give the other team any life.Ó Unlike the first three games of the series, the scoring started in the first period fairly early on. MelfortÕs Jordan Morgan, assisted by Cam Oliphant and Cam Larsen, scored just before the 7:30 mark into the period. With BartelÕs shutout short lived for the game, Ejov was about to lose his, twice over, in the first period. Four minutes after MelfortÕs goal, Brennan Cox, along with Barrett Penner and Cole Wilson, tied the score at 1-1. And 18:32 on the clock seemed to be a good number for the Bombers, as they scored their second goal as Tommy Castonguay found the back of the net after being fed by Pierre-Luc Boucher. Bartel had 11 shots come his way, while the Bombers bumped it up one and fired off 12 to Ejov. There were only a few penalties in the first as well as David Linsley started things off for the Bombers with a roughing call and Reid MacLeod was in for holding. The Mustangs had Jason Walker in the box for hooking and Ryan Gareau for roughing. But the second period was more interesting than the first as the Bombers and Mustangs were back on the ice, with a score of 2-1 for the Maroon and White. But that score didnÕt last long as captain Dennis Kubat, with linemates MacLeod and Harley Garrioch, lit the lantern, making it 3-1. As the crowd got louder, the goals kept on coming with another goal, only four minutes after their third, as David Linsley found the net, assisted by Kubat and Dominic Martel. Sitting with a score of 4-1, the Mustangs pulled up their socks, although coach Reagan said the Bombers were wearing down the Mustangs, and have been in every game. With six and a half minutes to go in the second period, Nick Kalnicki closed the gap to the Bombers comfortable lead, making it 4-2. The score would stay 4-2 for the remainder of the period, but it wasnÕt for a lack of trying as Bartel saw another nine shots come his way throughout the period and the home team earned another 12 shots. The Whitney Forum was louder than ever in the third period, again both with cheers and hollars for a new ref, and it seemed to be what both teams needed as the Bombers earned themselves another goal, while the Mustangs tacked on another three goals. Just five minutes into the period Kubat found the back of the net with an unassisted goal, making it 5-2, for the home team. But it was the Mustangs who picked up their sticks only forty seconds later with another goal from Kalnicki, assisted by Gareau, making it 5-3. And two seconds before the 15 minute mark of the period Kyle Fraser was on his game as he got past Bartel, with help from Clint Olsen and Shane Gimas, making it 5-4. And just as the fans in the crowd were cheering the Bombers on for the win, with 10 seconds to go in the game, Walker snuck on past Bartel, setting things up for a 5-5 overtime. Bartel was given 16 shots from the Mustangs during the third period, but the Bombers only fired off half of that as Ejov saw eight shots come his way. The third period saw a number of penalties, with a select few being called. Bartel was given a roughing, which was served by Boucher. Cox was in the box for hooking, Boucher for unsportsmanlike conduct, Linsley for high sticking and Boucher again for hooking. The Mustangs saw a roughing call to John Payne, hooking for Taylor Watt and hooking for Riley Clark. The teams were set for overtime, but if the crowd blinked they would have missed it, as Linsley found the back of the net with a slap shot with 18:30 left on the clock, after being fed by Martel, for the win. There were hugs from the team, coaches and, of course, the celebratory moose leg was thrown on the ice. With three of the four games in this series under their belts, Reagan says the Bombers donÕt really look at the score at the end of the day. ÒWe donÕt worry about it,Ó he says. ÒEvery game has been really tight. ÒIt all comes down to the third period,Ó says the coach, adding that really, to them, all the games have been one goal games. The Bombers headed to Melfort for game five Saturday night and after Thursday nightÕs game, Reagan said he would like to see this series finish Saturday night. See 'Import...' on pg. Continued from pg. ÒI think itÕs important to close them out now, and donÕt give them any momentum. Finishing Saturday would be the best case scenario.Ó And although it would be nice to be able to win the series at home Sunday, Reagan says Òit would be nice to get this thing over.Ó The Bombers are confident, but Reagan says really anything can happen. ÒAnything can happen in the playoffs,Ó he says. ÒWe havenÕt won this series yet. We know Melfort is going to be a tough team to beat out.Ó But with that said, the best case scenario would be the Bombers taking the series Saturday night in Melfort. Not only would the series be over, but it would give the team a break, a few extra days than the seventh game would give them. ÒAn advantage would be getting rested and geared up for the next series,Ó Reagan says. The Semi-Final series has been a rough one for the teams, but Reagan says the Bombers have worn down the Mustangs in every game so far. ÒWeÕre setting the team up for future games,Ó says Reagan, about the Bombers. ÒItÕs a long series, and it takes a toll physically on the team. We were physical early on and they have guys out now, a lot of key guys out,Ó he says. But not only are the games taking a toll on the Mustangs. The Bombers are trying to get healthy, but they donÕt have a full list yet. ÒWeÕve got some bumps and bruises. The longer you go, the more beat up you get,Ó says Reagan. ÒBut it helps to prepare you for whoever your opponent is in the next round.Ó Reagan commented on the atmosphere in the rink Thursday, which he said was great. ÒIt was exciting for the fans. Maybe it wasnÕt the way to win, but we got the job done.Ó
