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.
Bomber fans raged at the Whitney Forum because of an icing call that should never have been. That call resulted in the longest 1.9 seconds they may ever witness as the Bombers had to fight for a 3-2 win over the Yorkton Terriers. Dalton Pajak tried to score on an open net, but missed and was called for icing, which placed added pressure on the home team and Bombers coach-GM Doug Stokes wasn't pleased. "Well I'm absolutely convinced there was no way that was 1.9 seconds," said Stokes, still filled with emotion. "The puck was dropped, we didn't win the draw cleanly, but we won it farther enough behind us, and then there was a little scrum for it, then it comes out of the scrum, that's three or four seconds, there's no way in the world that's 1.9." Once the Bombers secured the game, Stokes had a few words with referee Darryl Cameron. "You know what, sometimes you can't comment on those things," Stokes said about the icing call. "I thought the crew had a tough game, I'm going to put it that way." While the officiating wasn't up to par, the Bombers played a near perfect home game against the second best team in the league. In the third, the Terriers came out and appeared to be the stronger team, which had some Bomber fans concerned. Stokes didn't think tiredness was the problem for his players. "You know sometimes it's not always your team, the other team does some good things and I thought they came hard in the third which I fully expected," Stokes said. "I thought we played maybe a little bit tentative and sometimes kids at this age play not to lose instead of play to win." While the Terriers had their share of pressure on the Bombers, it was the home team that got off to an excellent start as Blake Rolston put away a power-play goal within the first two minutes, making made the Whitney rock. Newcomer James Pasternak, earned an assist for his first Bomber point. Braden Olszewski, named Player of the Week by the SJHL, scored the Bombers second goal assisted by Dennis Kubat. "I think I intercepted a pass, then I got a 2-on-1 there and I just passed it over and he made a nice deke on the goalie there," Kubat said. "I credit him, he's worked hard, sweet linemate to play with, same with Mike." The game-winner was notched by Dalton Pajak, who scored his team leading 27th goal of the season tipping in a one-timer by Tyler Beachell. The win against Yorkton now gives the Bombers 15 on the season and inched them closer to the final Itech Conference playoff spot.
