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.
"Don't be afraid to win" went straight into the Bombers' ears before they hit the ice for overtime last Friday night. That message, from head coach and GM Mike Reagan, stuck with them as Andrew Johnston hammered one home for a 4-3 win over La Ronge in Game 5. When it was announced that the Bombers would be playing La Ronge in the playoffs, many fans counted them out before the first game. "I don't care about that," said Reagan, adding, "well, I mean I do. I want Flin Flon people to believe in this team." Comparing a team to a child, Reagan said the Bombers are what he lives for. "I live for these guys and when you hear negative things about your team, it hurts and it bugs me," he said. It didn't seem to faze the team as they pushed through games four and five for the win. "But at the same time, I love the passion of the fans here," said the coach, noting that they are like Montreal Canadiens fans Ð "it's probably the most critical place to place if you are losing, but when you are winning, they love you to death." Friday night, the Bombers held a 3-0 lead over the Ice Wolves heading into the third period, but La Ronge came from behind to tie it up with three goals against goalie Matt Weninger. The first two periods were the best two periods the Bombers have played in a long time, according to Reagan. "We looked like we were in total control and then in the third period, we just thought we could coast to the finish line," he said, "And you can't do that in hockey. "You (have) to keep doing what got you to that point." Giving the Ice Wolves too much line to play with, the Bombers soon found themselves heading into overtime. "We just laid back and La Ronge is a good team. They capitalized on some opportunities and that, but (they) just showed a lot of character being able to come back," said Reagan. Going into the fourth period was, naturally, not something the team was happy about. "We didn't like it, that's for sure," Reagan said with a laugh. "When we came (into the dressing room) in the intermission there were some sour looks n their faces and heads were down. "I told them, 'pick your heads up, fellas.' If we worry about giving up the lead, we're going to lose this game completely." Stressing to the team to relax, Reagan told his team, "don't be afraid to win." "I think deep down there...we didn't want to be in overtime," said the coach, "but we've had some success. That's back-to-back overtime wins for us and it's something that we can look back on. If we get in the same situation now, we know we can handle the pressure." Knowing there was still a tough road ahead of them, Reagan said "everything that we've learned through this series is going to help us down the road." The Game A power play goal from Ryan Fox got the scoring started in the first period at 14:22, with help from Mike Rey and Michael Young. Four minutes later, Fox earned his second marker of the night against La Ronge's Adam Bartko Ð giving assists to Patrick Sitko and Rey. The second period saw the Bombers with only one goal Ð a power play goal Ð from Devon Stillar with help from Rey and Young at 8:08. Leading the Ice Wolves 3-0 into the third period, La Ronge soon had the game tied. Heading into overtime, the Bombers sat with 33 shots on Bartko while Weninger had 38 on him. Though the Bombers had two shots in the fourth period, they only needed one Ð from Johnston Ð to win the game. "...this is how this series has gone for us," said Reagan. "We haven't done anything easy and it is what it is. "We keep saying that if we're down, it is what it us. You can't worry about it. "You just got to go and focus on your next shift and winning the game." Strategy From Game 1 to Game 5, Reagan says he has really seen a transformation in the team. "I've seen this team evolve. It's funny how a team just evolves in front of you in a week," he said. "...the way this team has started to believe and the way this team has started to play play-off hockey." With each game in the series, the intensity has grown. "We knew it was going to be tough coming off with La Ronge having the survivor series and having that momentum and (we were) just sitting flat," he said. Reagan said he can stress hard work in practice, but it's the game day that counts. "In life, you've got a choice in everything you do. You can choose to go through the motions or buckle down and focus in on what your job is," he said. "Right now, we're doing that." In front of 1,121 fans Friday night, the Bombers proved to be the team everyone has come to know this year. Along with 1,100 Flin Flon fans comes noise and support. "It's unbelievable," said Reagan. "That was awesome. It reminded me of when the Bombers won back in 1992-93." Though it's been said many times in many ways, the Whitney Forum proved to be the place to play. "This is the best (the players have) ever seen," said the former Bomber. The Bombers hit the road Sunday for Game 6 in La Ronge. A third period outbreak from the Ice Wolves left the Bombers at the end of the road for the 2009-10 season.
