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.
Leaving the comfort of home behind, the Bombers hit the road for the start of a four-game road series. Starting things off in Nipawin, the Bombers scored on the Hawks in the second period but were unable to get past the home team again Tuesday night. The Hawks answered back and came out on top 3-1 Ð leaving the Bombers with a disappointing loss, according to head coach and GM Mike Reagan. "We deserved to win," says Reagan. "We totally dominated the second period with 19 shots on net." Going into the third period, the Maroon and White held a 1-0 lead over the Hawks, but were unable to get to the back of the net again. "We let Nipawin hang around," says Reagan. "And when you let a team hang around, it comes around to bite you in the butt." For the Bombers, the second period was their game, but a few "questionable calls" and a few goals later, the home team claimed the third as their own. "I can't be disappointed in the way the guys played," says the coach. "We should have won." As Reagan said, the second period was dominated by the Bombers. Dominic Martel started things off for the team with a shorthanded goal, which ended up being the team's only time to light the lantern, early in the period Ð with help from Jean Sebastian Bergeron. Turning away 25 of the Hawks's shots, Matt Weninger stood between the pipes for the Maroon and White. He was able to keep his shutout until the third period when the Hawks scored a power play goal. Though the home team got by on a power play, Reagan says the Bombers' special teams continue to improve. "On the power play, I thought we moved the puck well," he says. "And right now, it's a confidence thing. "They put a lot of pressure on themselves, but it's just not clicking right now." As for the game itself, the coach says it was "tight." "The first period was a lot of back and forth play, we dominated the second and then in the third we allowed them to hang around." The following is a summary of the game: A scoreless first period left 532 fans wondering how the game was going to pan out. The Bombers answered their thoughts in the second period with a shorthanded goal from Martel, with a helper going to Bergeron. From there, the team dominated the period Ð though they were unable to get to the back of the net. Penalties came to the Bombers for tripping, putting Michael Young in the box for two minutes. As well that period, the Hawks were in for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing after the whistle as well as a call for holding. As the second period came to an end, the Bombers led the Hawks into the third period by a score of 1-0. Weninger faced 17 shots going into the third 20 minutes of play, keeping his shutout. But the third period had other plans for him as the Hawks scored their first goal, which Reagan calls questionable as he says the referee didn't see the puck go in the net, and then a second goal before an empty netter to end the game. Not getting a second goal right away was what killed the Bombers, says Reagan, as they let the Hawks "hang around." The Bombers put Tuesday's loss behind them and headed into Notre Dame Wednesday, where they doubled up on the Hounds 6-3 for their first two points of the road series.
