Simon Hofley’s first victory at Canisius College was a big one for the former Flin Flon Bomber.
“As a second goalie who has played in games before but never earned a victory, there seemed to be a lot of pressure on me to prove myself to my team and team’s fans,” Hofley wrote about the November contest in which he made 39 saves. “After my first win against Mercyhurst, the pressure was relieved and I felt extraordinary that I had accomplished my first goal, which was proving to myself that I belonged at this level.”
As a rookie in the NCAA Division I ranks, the 20-year-old from Ottawa has a 4-4 record with a 2.46 goals against average and .929 save percentage for his Buffalo, New York, school.
Hofley has made some adjustments on and off the ice this season.
“The schooling aspect is a big change from junior hockey, but I feel like I have adjusted properly to that change,” the business management major said. “Also, especially in the SJHL, typically your youngest player was 18 and oldest was 20, thus only a two-year difference. In college, there can be as much as a five-year gap.”
Before heading to Canisius College, Hofley spent two years with the Bombers. He said he cherishes the memories and friends he made in Flin Flon.
“I sincerely miss the town itself, the dedicated fans and billet families,” Hofley said. “I know for a fact that I lucked out significantly with my billet family, the Salamondras. Now living in a city, and even though it is a hockey city, it’s not the same thing as small town hockey Canada.”
Hofley came to Flin Flon after listening to his midget AAA coach, Travis Crickard, tell many stories about his own time with the Bombers (2005-2007).
“I knew I wanted to go somewhere and get a true junior hockey experience and, without a doubt, you can’t get a better junior hockey experience than from the Flin Flon Bombers,” Hofley said.
After two seasons, he said he’d recommend playing for the Bombers to anyone.
“I thought it was amusing how I didn’t really think that much of the rich hockey history Flin Flon has until I tried to explain it to teammates here who could never fully appreciate it, having never had the Bomber experience,” Hofley said. “I’m proud to say that I’m a Bomber. Once a Bomber, always a Bomber.”
