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 game was the first of the playoffs in the Conference Semi-Finals, but the Flin Flon Bombers were playing the same as they had in the past few games Ð which was good enough for another shutout win. Leaving the Melfort Mustangs trailing 6-0, the Bombers claimed their fourth straight shutout win Ð three being from the end of the regular season. With a big game on hand, the Bombers played to a boisterous crowd, nothing too uncommon for the Maroon and White. With nearly 900 fans cheering the team on, Matt Lecours came out with the first goal of the game Ð giving the team bragging rights for the series' first goal. With help from Michael Young, Lecours made his way past David Tetrault before the first two minutes of the game. And things kept going for Lecours as he walked away with that goal as well as four assists by the end of the game. Also making it to the scoresheet a number of times, Young earned two assists and one goal and David Dykstra was given credit for his two goals. After the team's 6-0 blowout over the visitors, head coach and GM Mike Reagan said he expected the Bombers were going to face an intense game. Reagan says Melfort bench boss Darrell Mann brings intense players to the table. By the end of the game, fists were flying and mouths were running while other players tried to avoid the fights. "Do I condone it?" Reagan asks, noting that with a 6-0 game, the teams expect things like this to happen. "No. There were some unnecessary (things) and some lack of respect on (some) of the players." While some fights were agreed upon by both participants, there were some who dropped their gloves and chased other players. "It was ridiculous," says Reagan. As for the series, the bench boss says things have gotten off to a good start for the Bombers. As always, the team has come up with a goal for the outcome, hoping to establish themselves in the series. The Bombers got off to a good start with Friday's game as they finished their checks, scored goals, had power play goals and earned 100 per cent on their penalty kill. "You can't ask for much more than that to start a series," says Reagan. As for the game the next night, he said he hoped Melfort showed up to play hockey. "You can't win games by sitting in the box," said Reagan, noting that the Mustang's had 23 penalties in Friday's game Ð the Bombers sat out 11 calls. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Bombers churned out 31 shots, nearly double the 17 shots Melfort managed on Weninger. "We played well. We played smart," said Reagan. "We (wanted to) make sure we were healthy going into game two." Coming out with a healthy team Saturday night boded well for the Bombers as they shut out the Mustangs 6-0. The following is a Friday scoring summary for the Bombers: With the first goal from Lecours, the Bombers were on their way to victory. Young came into play with a powerplay goal with help from Lecours and Patrick Sitko. Ending out the scoring in the first period, Dykstra earned his first goal with a helper from Lecours. Starting things off right in the second period, Dominic Martel earned a short-handed goal against the Mustangs just before the six-minute mark with help from Lecours. Scoring the team's fifth goal was Cole Wilson, with help from Lecours and Young on a power play. And keeping with the powerplay goals, Dykstra got in on the action again with an unassisted goal.
