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.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Seven players have made their way through the Flin Flon Minor Hockey Association and onto the next level. Boyd Logan, Evan Akkerman, Zach Garrett, Aaron Beauchamp, Brendan Barron, Tavish Quinn and Teegan Quinn are members of Norman Northstars. Having seven players from the Flin Flon area is impressive, says coach Dustin Levesque, considering the decline in minor hockey numbers. 'One thing that I'm really noticing is minor hockey numbers shrinking in general,' he said in an e-mail interview. 'Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach, for example, only had 28 midget-aged players eligible to try out this year.' Seven of those who tried out made the Thompson-based AAA team. 'So that is a positive for Flin Flon Minor Hockey and the quality of players they produce,' said Levesque. Levesque says 'the entire region needs to work on finding ways to increase our numbers' in minor hockey 'and making the game fun so the kids are seeing things through into their Midget years.' The Northstars haven't had the success they had hoped for this season. 'Every season has its challenges,' said Levesque, 'this year I don't think we played to our potential on a consistent enough basis, but I believe we're playing our best hockey as a team right now heading into the playoffs.' Playoff run The Northstars began their playoff run last weekend as they defeated the Kenora Thistles in a best-of-three series. 'We are peaking at the right time and as a coaching staff, that's what you strive for each year,' said Levesque. The Northstars now look to the second round of the playoffs as they will entertain the Southwest Cougars in Game 1 of the best-of-three series tonight. 'We need the players to bring real playoff intensity right through the entire roster so we can use the last change and depth to our advantage,' Levesque said prior to the beginning of the playoffs. Of course moving into the post-season, expectations are different. 'Expectations will change for sure,' said the coach. See 'Playoff...' on pg. 11 Continued from page 5 'There is nothing to save energy for once the playoffs come around and I would expect to see more blocked shots, more second effort, and more determination since our season is on the line every weekend from here on out. 'We also expect everyone to do what they do best to the best of their ability. The goal scorers need to be scoring goals in pressure situations, the penalty killers and checking lines need to shut down our opponents, the power play needs to be producing at high efficiency and (our) goaltenders need to come up with those game-changing saves.' The Northstars' second playoff round starts tonight with all three games, if needed, being played in Souris, MB.
