Although the Flin Flon Bombers did not earn a win on SJHL’s opening weekend, the team’s bench boss was pleased with his team’s play.
“We are happy with our team,” said head coach and general manager Mike Reagan. “The results weren’t there yet, but it is a process. … There is no panic button being pushed.”
On the road on Friday, Sept. 18, the Bombers fell 6-3 to the Nipawin Hawks. The next day they earned a point but lost in a shootout 5-4 to the Hawks at the Whitney Forum.
“I’m not too worried about the results. … I like the way we played,” Reagan said. “We were physical. We had opportunities to win both games.”
Reagan identified some areas he wanted to focus on in practice this week.
“I’d like to see us be a little more disciplined and a little better on the penalty kill,” he said.
“As for our play five-on-[five] play, I thought for the most part we were the better team [over the weekend. I really liked the way we played.”
Joel Webb, a 20-year-old defenceman, impressed during opening weekend. Acquired from Kindersley this past summer, he accumulated one goal and two assists.
“Joel Webb was fantastic in the first two games of the season,” Reagan said. “I think he has to be one of the best defencemen in the league.”
Webb’s defensive partner, Curtis Roach, also played well, said Reagan, who noted there is chemistry developing between the pair. Roach, an 18-year-old season from Saskatoon, had four assists on the weekend.
Brandon Switzer, who turns 20 in November, also played an important role. The forward had a goal and an assist.
Reagan said the Brandon product impressed the coaching staff with his physical play, strong work ethic and leadership by example.
Newly acquired netminder Zac Robidoux allowed nine goals in two games. Reagan said the team is confident in the netminder who helped the MJHL’s Portage Terriers win the Royal Bank Cup last spring.
“It can be deceiving,” Reagan said. “Some of the goals, I don’t think Patrick Roy would have stopped them. … We know he is a goalkeeper that gets the job done.”
Robidoux stopped 33 of the 38 shots he faced in his Bombers’ regular season debut. The next night he stopped 36 of 40 shots during play and turned aside two of three shootout attempts.
The Bombers are continuing their process of finalizing their roster. As of Sunday, Sept. 20, the team had 26 players, including three goaltenders.
The Bombers take on the defending champion Melfort Mustangs on the road tonight, Wednesday. Melfort beat and then lost in overtime to La Ronge on the SJHL’s opening weekend.
Reagan said the Bombers knew the first three games of the season would be challenging as they faced two Sherwood Division rivals and teams expected to do well this season.
However, he noted that all SJHL games are tough and the Bombers expect to do well also.
Flin Flon will tangle with the Humboldt Broncos on Friday at the Whitney Forum. The Broncos split their opening weekend series with the Notre Dame Hounds.
Nipawin 5 Flin Flon 4 (SO)
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Flin Flon
1st: Flfl, Wilson 2 (Reitmeier, Roach), 6:55; Nipa, Spriggs 3 (Dunlop, Mignault), 11:39 (PP). Penalties: Switzer Flfl (elbowing), 0:22; Lacoursiere Flfl (cross checking), 1:38; Roach Flfl (roughing), 11:06; Wood Nipa (hooking), 15:21; Wolkowicz Nipa (hooking), 19:26.
2nd: Flfl, Switzer 1 (Roach, Kocur), 0:32 (PP); Nipa, Bolden 1 (Fournier, Thudium), 3:32 (PP). Penalties: Webb Flfl (slashing), 2:32; Spriggs Nipa (holding the stick), 9:31; Shumlanski Flfl (boarding), 9:42; Etter Flfl (high sticking), 13:34.
3rd: Nipa, Spriggs 4 (Gerbner, Dunlop), 2:56 (PP); Flfl, Webb 1 (Smith, Roach), 7:04 (PP); Nipa, Dunlop 2 (Doerksen, Bolden), 12:23; Flfl, Shumlanski 1 (Webb, Empey), 15:31. Penalties: Knaub Flfl (slashing), 2:41; Baetsen Nipa (interference), 6:33; Wood Nipa (roughing), 6:54; Knaub Flfl (slashing), 18:01.
OT: No Scoring. Penalties: Doerksen Nipa (high sticking), 3:53; Spriggs Nipa (roughing), 4:55; Smith Flfl (roughing), 4:55.
Shootout: Nipa 1 (Bolden NG, Spriggs G, Thudium NG); Flfl 0 (Smith NG, Webb NG, Empey NG).
Shots on goal: Nipa 10-16-13-1-1-41; Flfl 14-14-7-6-0-41
Power play: Nipa 3/8; Flfl 2/6
Goalies: Nipa, Stead 2-0-0-0 (41 shots/37 saves); Flfl, Robidoux 0-1-0-1 (40 shots/36 saves).
Attendance: 1,181
Referees: Ben Laird, Chris Camponi
Linesmen: Matt Kowaluk, Joel Beresh
Nipawin 6 Flin Flon 3
Friday, Sept. 18 at Nipawin
1st: Flfl, Wilson 1 (Reitmeier, Webb), 10:18. Penalties: Wilson Flfl (tripping), 13:02; Cross Nipa (tripping), 15:30.
2nd: Flfl, Smith 1 (Etter, Switzer), 5:37; Nipa, Thudium 1 (Doerksen); 7:27. Nipa, Piattelli 1 (Thudium); 10:24 (PP); Nipa, Spriggs 1 13:23 (SH); Nipa, Cross 1 (Bolden, Harasymuk), 14:26. Penalties: Roach Flfl (hooking), 9:24; Chaulk Nipa (interference), 11:55; Fournier Nipa (interference), 18:29.
3rd: Flfl, Smith 2 (Roach, Kocur), 0:29 (PP); Nipa, Dunlop 1 (Mignault, Bolden), 1:54; Nipa, Spriggs 2 19:17 (EN). Penalties: Masson Flfl (roughing), 5:05; Doerksen Nipa (roughing), 5:05.
Shots on goal: Flfl 14-10-11-35; Nipa 9-18-12-39
Power play: Flfl 1/3; Nipa 1/2
Goalies: Flfl, Robidoux 0-1-0-1 (38 shots/33 saves); Nipa, Stead 2-0-0-0 (35 shots/32 saves)
Attendance: 848
Referees: Chad Williams, Cole Hamm
Linesmen: Jordan Boyd, Matt Kowaluk
