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.
Going into Game 3 with two losses against the Humboldt Broncos, the Flin Flon Bombers were looking to even things out with a win at home against the top team in Canada. But Wednesday wasnÕt their night as the Broncos opened the scoring in the first period and kept it going until late into the third taking the game 4-0. The Broncos led the series 3-0 in the Northern Division Championship heading into last night's game. With almost 1,000 people in the Whitney Forum, Carsen Chubak and the Maroon and White hit the ice for what they were hoping was going to be their turning point in the series. Although the Bombers were unable to get past Taylor Nelson, the team gave it a good run. But it wasnÕt enough for a win. Fans in the rink were a little surprised when blueliner Harley Garrioch started the first face-off as a forward, but head coach and GM Mike Reagan says it was to shake things up. ÒWe wanted to get in there and set the tone for the game,Ó he says. Both the coaching staff, players and fans know that if the Bombers didnÕt pull out a win in yesterdayÕs game, their season is over. ÒOur backs are up against the wall. We need to win tomorrow or our season is over,Ó Reagan said after Wednesday nightÕs game. With that in mind, Reagan says they have to go into Game 4 with an attitude. ÒIf you feel like your season is almost done you have to go in with an attitude and play the game,Ó he says. The team sitting with a relaxed feeling, but Reagan says they need to loosen up. ÒThey were just way too uptight tonight. They need to have a loose attitude.Ó Although it could be easier said than done, Reagan says they Òhave to come to the rink and enjoy it. It could be their last game and thatÕs hard.Ó But Reagan assures although they are sitting with less than desirable stats, the team hasnÕt given up hope. ÒWe have to come to the rink and take it one game at a time. You canÕt concentrate on the past, you have to focus on now and take it one game at a time,Ó he says. The Whitney Forum was filled once again with chants of wanting a new ref as the penalty box was seldom empty through the second and third period. There were only two penalties in the first as David Linsley was given two minutes for hooking while Myles Masse was given two for slashing. The Broncos were in a few more times as Justin Stoski was in for charging, Brayden Klimosko for cross checking and Laurent Benjamin for hooking. Shawn Hunter got past Chubak for the first goal of the game, giving the team a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Chubak had seven shots come his way in the first 20 minutes of play as the Bombers tacked on a few more and delivered 10 shots to Nelson. In the second period Klimosko was able to get by Chubak with an over the shoulder goal, making it 2-0 late in the period. Both teams saw a fair share of penalties for the period as Bomber Dustyn Clegg was sent to the bin for roughing with Tory Allan. Tommy Castonguay and Pierre-Luc Boucher were given two minutes in the box for hooking. Garrioch saw five minutes for fighting as he and Voldy Dashko duked it out at centre ice. Michael Young was given two minutes for roughing after the whistle and it was Kory Gursky in the bin for interference. In front of the Bombers penalty box things got a little heated as Barrett Penner was slammed into the boards, leaving him on the ice for a few minutes. Allan was given two minutes for checking from behind, which was served by Stoski as well Allan was sent off the ice and given a game misconduct. Chubak had a busier period in the second as the Bombers fired off another 13 shots and the Bombers added another 10 to their list. The third period had two more goals from the Broncos as they got one past Chubak at 10:30 of play, making it 3-0. And with 14 seconds left in the game, Humboldt made it 4-0 for the win. The third period saw another number of penalties as Reid MacLeod started things off with a cross checking call while the Broncos were given two minutes for roughing early on. But it was late into the third period when things got heated again with MacLeod in the bin for goaltender interference, which started fights with Boucher and Edward Gale and Scott Day and Klimosko. Garrioch was given two minutes for instigating, which was served by Cole Wilson, as he was given a 10 minute misconduct. With Game 3 out of the way and the Bombers sitting at 0-3 in the series, Reagan says itÕs not where they thought they were going to be. ÒWe thought we would be in a better position than we are, but thatÕs how she goes,Ó he says. ÒWe knew Humboldt was going to be a tough team, but we still think we can win. ÒWeÕre taking it one game at a time and one shift at a time.Ó
