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.
For the first game in the Northern Division Championship, the Flin Flon Bombers, and the many local fans who traveled to Humboldt for their game against the Broncos, were expecting a better outcome. Head coach and GM Mike Reagan says although the Maroon and White played a good first two periods, the third period was their fall through as the home team managed to pull out a 7-1 win, leading the series 1-0. The Bombers opened the scoring late in the first period, but the visiting team was unable to score for a second goal Aside from the action on the ice, the fans behind the playersÕ benches were getting rowdy in the third period as the Bomber fans booed as Harley Garrioch was escorted off the ice for fighting. With a few fans from Humboldt and Flin Flon giving their two cents into the situation, the words spread to actions as security guards stepped in to break things up. Although things were back to normal in the stands, the players were still dropping their gloves and throwing punches. The third period saw Garrioch and Cory Knaus fought it out in HumboldtÕs end with just over six minutes on the clock after Knaus was given two minutes for cross checking. After being sent to the penalty box, Garrioch was shown off the ice and received two minutes for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct. The visiting Maroon and White showed they were in it for the long run as Matt Dyck, after being fed by Barrett Penner and Garrioch, started the scoring off for the first game in the Northern Division Championship finals. Carsen Chubak was in net for the Bombers fighting off 36 of the Broncos shots on net throughout the game. The first period Chubak was solid as he kept his shutout and had 12 shots come his way. The Bombers fired off 11 to Taylor Nelson, sneaking one in, making it 1-0. And there were plenty of penalties in the first to go around as Bronco Knaus started things off with holding. Flin Flon was in the slammer for slashing, hooking, tripping, roughing, and checking from behind as the Broncos finished things off with another tripping call, interference and slashing. Going into the first period with a score of 1-0 the Bombers were unable to keep the lantern lit, but the Broncos had no trouble picking up the slack as they fired off three goals in the second period. As the clock turned to the four minute mark, Edward Gale, assisted by Jordan Schindel, tied the score up at one a piece. But it was Vlody Dashko who broke the tie with help from linemate Steven Schroeder on a power play. And the final goal of the period, just over a minute later, made it 3-1 for the end of the second period once Justin Stoski and Matthew Kirzinger got past Chubak. Bomber coach Reagan said after Saturday nightÕs game he and the team felt confident going into the game and the first two periods the Maroon and White played really well. But the third period the Bombers fell through in the scoring again as Humboldt fans had their share of celebration. Kirzinger found the back of the net for the second time that night, making it 4-1. Flin Flon fans had their moments of hope as the Bombers fired off another 11 shots on Nelson. But it was the Broncos who were able to find the back of the net again as Tory Allan, Tanner Vandesype and Shawn Hunter all scored a goal, making it 7-1 for the win. The period had a number of players in the bin as the Bombers spent the majority of the time with a player, or two, in the box. Garrioch was given two minutes for holding, two for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct. Cameron MacKinnon left the ice for fighting while Penner was given a 10 minute misconduct and four minutes for roughing after the whistle. And Myles Masse found himself being given two minutes for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct. Of the many calls against the Bombers, Reagan says some were questionable. ÒThere were some questionable calls and things that Humboldt got away with early on,Ó says the coach. ÒWe had two defencemen thrown out early on and that takes a toll on the team.Ó Michael Young and Jean Sebastien Bergeron left the ice, but Reagan says he didnÕt agree with the calls. ÒYounger and Bergee are huge for us and eat up a lot of time,Ó he says. But with the calls set aside, Reagan sticks with his word as he says the Bombers played well in the first two periods. And after Saturday nightÕs game out of the way, Reagan says he is confident for Sunday nightÕs game. ÒWeÕre down 1-0 and we have to bounce back tomorrow and get a win,Ó says Reagan. With over 600 kilometers between Flin Flon and Humboldt, Reagan says having a day, without travel, will help for the next game. The Bombers have said time in and time out that they are more used to traveling than other teams, but Reagan says the day of rest will do them good. ÒWe played well in the first two periods, but we did some running around the third,Ó he says. ÒWe have to regroup for tomorrow nightÕs (SundayÕs) game.Ó
