Flin Flon Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan has said countless times this season that he likes the 2015-16 edition of his team.
He stood by his optimism as the Bombers made only a minor move at the trade deadline this past Sunday, Jan. 10.
The Bombers shipped the little-used Isaac Tkachuk, 18, and fellow forward Josh Hayward, also 18, to the Kindersley Klippers. In return, Flin Flon gets a 2017 first-round draft pick and player development fees.
“We just figured we’d give them an opportunity to play more,” Reagan said. “They are both really good kids.”
Reagan said his team plans to push to win its division. To do that, he said the Bombers want to ice their best line-up every night and don’t want too many players sitting out.
Hayward had six goals and 10 points in 20 games after starting the season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Tkachuk played in nine games and recorded an assist.
Over the past two months the Bombers have certainly showed why Reagan believes in them.
Last week the squad opened the 2016 portion of their schedule by going 3-0, including a pair of victories over the defending SJHL champion Melfort Mustangs.
Flin Flon is 9-1 in its last 10 games with a 21-13-0-4 record, good for fifth in the SJHL.
“We play with a lot of speed,” Reagan said. “We are confident right now. … The chemistry is a big part of it.
“Our guys can feel confident going forward that we have a team that can beat anybody.”
The coach emphasized that he likes his team’s depth. Four lines have been contributing points and the squad goes eight deep on defence.
In net, both starter Zac Robidoux and back-up Brenden Newton have been strong.
The Bombers started last week’s 3–0 streak with a 6-5 shootout victory at home over Yorkton on Jan. 5.
Over the weekend, the Bombers beat the Mustangs twice, the first time this
season that Melfort, which has the second-best record in the SJHL, has lost back-to-back games in regulation.
Robidoux was injured in the first Melfort contest. Newton stepped in and earned the two wins.
Reagan said it was good for the team’s and Newton’s confidence to have the 18-year-old from Medicine Hat step in and succeed.
On Friday night, Flin Flon led 6-3 with five minutes remaining. Melfort scored twice but ended up falling 6-5 at the Whitney Forum.
“I wasn’t very happy with the way we played the last five minutes,” Reagan said. “It could have been a blessing in disguise. I think it regained our focus for the next night.”
The Bombers triumphed 6-3 the following night in Melfort.
Reagan was pleased with his team’s speed and puck movement throughout the weekend.
Flin Flon’s top line of Alex Smith, Brandon Switzer and Joel Kocur continues to excel. The trio combined for seven goals in the two games against Melfort. Switzer and Smith both recorded three points in each game.
“They have been absolutely amazing,” Reagan said. “I think it is probably the best line I have had here in Flin Flon as far as chemistry and what they have done. … They just love playing together.”
Heading into Tuesday’s games, Smith (third with 57 points), Switzer (fourth with 56 points) and Kocur (10th with 47 points) were all in the top 10 in league scoring. Switzer and Kocur lead the team with 25 goals each.
While the top line has produced, the Bombers have had contributions from all four lines.
For example, the line of Brandon Lesko, Mitch Foyle and Nick Shumlanski produced three goals and eight points in Saturday’s game.
Foyle finished with three assists. Lesko had a goal and an assist on the night. Shumlanski recorded two goals and a helper.
“He played with a lot of pace [Saturday],” said Reagan of Shumlanski, while also praising the play of the whole line over the weekend. “His linemates skate very well. We have a lot of speed on that line.”
The Bombers take on Sherwood Division rival La Ronge twice this week. On Friday the teams play in La Ronge before meeting again the next night at the Whitney.
Prior to their game against Kindersley on Tuesday, the Ice Wolves were 18-15-1-2, good for fourth in the Sherwood – seven points behind Flin Flon and seventh in the SJHL.
