This past spring, while still stinging from his team’s early playoff exit, Flin Flon Bombers head coach and GM Mike Reagan refused to abandon his fundamental goal.
The objective for 2015-16, he told the team’s annual general meeting, remained unchanged: another championship banner for the rafters of the Whitney Forum.
Now, following off-season upgrades, a competitive training camp and a stellar preseason, Reagan sounds as confident as ever heading into Friday’s regular season opener in Nipawin.
“Honestly I didn’t see any real weakness,” he said, referring to the preseason. “I thought that we played hard in all the games.”
Indeed the Bombers lost just one of four exhibition matchups, and the single defeat was hardly worrisome given that it involved draft picks, not ready-for-prime-time players.
Speaking Monday afternoon, Reagan said whittling down the roster to regulation size has been difficult, and he doesn’t expect that to change with a handful of cuts still to come.
“That’s a good indication of how well the guys have impressed us,” he said.
This past week Flin Flon won three straight exhibition games, outscoring their opponents 17 to 4. They downed the rival OCN Blizzard of the MJHL by scores of 7-3 and 5-1 before disposing of the Kindersley Klippers 5-0.
And they did it with an incomplete lineup, as three impact players – forwards Michael Knaub and Adam Wilson and blueliner Brandon Masson – have been out with injuries, though all three are expected to be ready for the weekend.
Reagan said his top line of Alex Smith, Joel Kocur and Brandon Switzer has been strong so far. Last season the trio combined for 41 goals and 107 points despite missing 42 games between them.
Also looking solid is the second line of new captain Tyson Empey, Brandon Lesko and Nick Shumlanski. Reagan has said he believes Shumlanski could contend for the league’s Rookie of the Year title.
Nowhere are the Bombers more remodeled, and perhaps improved, than in net. Last season saw Reagan alternate between goalies Simon Hofley and Adam Beukeboom, both of whom are no longer with the team.
This year the Bombers have a definitive starter in Zac Robidoux. The 19-year-old comes to Flin Flon after serving as the brick wall that allowed the Portage Terriers to capture the RBC Cup last season.
Robidoux appeared in 13 regular season games for Portage last season, accumulating a 1.97 GAA and 0.924 save-percentage. He was more impressive in the RBC tournament, going undefeated in four games with a 1.75 GAA and a 0.923 save-percentage.
Reagan welcomes Robidoux’s proven ability to win under pressure. He also points to the 6 ft. 3 in. goalie’s size as a plus.
On the blueline, Reagan said returning defenceman Braden Lacoursiere has stepped up his game. And the coach is big on ever-improving rookies Nick Shumlanski and Brandon Lesko, both forwards, and Cory Thomas, a blueliner.
“We knew they were good, but we didn’t know they were this good at this young of an age,” he said. “Lesko and Thomas are 17-year-olds and Shumlanski’s an 18-year-old. They’re going to be guys that play quality minutes for us.”
Looking around the league, Reagan doesn’t expect an easy ride this season, noting in particular that Nipawin, Estevan, Melville and Melfort are expected to be formidable.
“The league is good from top to bottom, so it’s going to be another interesting and exciting year,” he said.
The Bombers open the regular season this Friday, Sept. 18 in Nipawin against the Hawks. Flin Flon’s season opener is the following night, Saturday, Sept. 19, with the Hawks visiting the Whitney Forum.
