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.
Former Flin Flon Bombers captain Chris Hatch has rejoined the team, this time as a coach. The captain of the 1992-93 Bombers has been named the second assistant coach in charge of skill development. Hatch returns to the hockey world after taking some time off. 'That's my key _ to get my family life back and get back into the Bomber way,' he said. 'Who wouldn't take that opportunity?' Once he aged out of the SJHL, Hatch went on to play with the Huntington Blizzard of the East Coast Hockey League and then SAIT, where he earned a degree in recreation. Hatch later coached at a hockey school he developed as well as a hockey camp for adults. The adult camp brought in ex-NHLers as part of a fantasy camp and gave adults the chance to play in tournaments. Hatch developed the camp and school with a friend, and they later developed a trucking company, Red Planet Trucking, together. Hatch recently left the busy field of trucking behind and landed back in Flin Flon, back at the Whitney Forum and back on the Bomber bench. 'I've spent too much time being on call 24 hours a day,' he said. In his new role as second assistant coach, Hatch is eager to learn from the players and coaching staff. 'I want to learn as much as I can from (head coach and GM) Mike Reagan and (assistant coach) Emery Olauson,' said the former Bomber. 'Every day I want to learn something and every day...I want to bring something to the table.' Hatch had the chance to watch a few skates during the main camp but was also in the process of moving back to town from Alberta. Hatch has high expectations for the Bombers this season. 'I want to win the championship,' he said. 'Anything less than that is going to be disappointing.' See 'Team' on pg. Continued from pg. That being said, Hatch says 'as long as the team is growing and becoming better' he and the coaches will be happy. Anavet Success Hatch joins the Bomber bench knowing a thing or two about success himself. He was captain of the 1992-93 Bombers, the last Flin Flon team to capture the coveted Anavet Cup. 'I don't know if it's going to do too much,' he said in terms of whether his role on that team will inspire the current Bombers. 'Everyone has won something at some point in time,' he said. Hatch hopes to inspire the players through experience more so than trophies. 'I think the biggest thing with me coming back is to get them to think about what it means to play here and how much of your life, once you've played here, is still tied here,' he said. While playing with the Bombers, Hatch's billet was June Hoglander, who quickly became a big part of his life. 'It's kind of weird,' he said with a laugh. 'You have to be a certain character to play in Flin Flon and to last in Flin Flon. 'You live with someone for two or three years of your life and they are like your parents; they clean up after you, they do your laundry, they even clean your underwear. 'They become like parents.' Hatch and Hoglander remain close 20 years later. He gives credit to Hoglander as she encouraged him to come back to the Bomber organization. 'She has been pushing me for quite a while to come back and try coaching,' Hatch said. 'She was a big influence here.' Coming back to Flin Flon now, and returning over the years after finished playing for the Bombers, Hatch said there was always one constant. 'It was like coming back to a little family,' he said. But he's not just coming back for the Flin Flon family. Hatch said it's also important to be able to give back to a community and an organization that did so much for him. He said he's always supported the organization over the years and continues to hold a great deal of respect for the Maroon and White as well as Reagan. 'A lot of it comes from the respect that I've got for Mike,' he said. 'I'm little bit older than him, but I look up to him.' Reagan, also a former Bomber, rejoined the team as head coach and GM in 2007 and has returned the team to contender status. 'For him to come back...and do what he's done here _ that gave me the confidence to come back...and follow in (his) footsteps and give back,' said Hatch. Playing for the Bombers for three seasons, Hatch knows the team 'means a lot to the people in the community.' Joining the Bomber bench will give Hatch the chance to learn and see the game from a new vantage point. 'I'm just excited to learn from what Mike's been doing with the program,' he said. 'It's not hard to want to be a part of something that he's built up.' Though he has been out of hockey, Hatch said the sport has influenced all facets of his life. 'Every single thing I've done since playing hockey...has always had something to do with hockey,' he said. 'It's not always a key ingredient, but it's definitely a building block.'
