It didn’t take Brett Boehm long to make an impact on his return to the Flin Flon Bombers, as he set up Chris Rauckman for the game winning goal against the Humboldt Broncos on Sunday night, Jan. 4.
Rauckman’s tap-in after Boehm completely undressed Humboldt goaltender Brock Hamm made it 2-0 for Flin Flon at 7:51 of the third period.
“He put that puck basically on the goal line for Rauckman to hammer home,” said head coach Mike Reagan of the Boehm setup. “(Rauckman) didn’t even have to look. A blind monkey could have scored that goal.”
The Broncos made it a 2-1 game when Gray Marr found a way to beat goaltender Adam Beukeboom with just seven seconds left on the clock during six-on-four play, with a Bomber in the penalty box and the Humboldt goaltender sitting on the bench in favour of the extra attacker.
That is how this one would end.
Tyler Bell had the other goal from Flin Flon, scoring on a blast from the point during a power play with only five seconds left in the first period.
The game was Flin Flon’s first since December 20, and the Bombers dominated the first 40 minutes of play before Humboldt found their legs in the third.
“Our power play wasn’t very good tonight,” said Reagan. “We had many opportunities, but there’s a lack of practice time and a lack of chemistry right now. The first two periods we had some good chances, but in the third we refused to put pucks on net.”
The Bombers managed only the one power play goal on nine chances, and that came while on a two-man advantage. Humboldt scored once on four tries with the extra man.
Reagan says the challenge moving forward will be to make sure the players know their assignments and are doing the little things right. “If you take a look at our forward lines, there’s a tonne of skill there now. When you have Austin Evans and Tyson Empey on your fourth line, that says you are pretty deep.”
Final shots on net were 43-36 in favour of the Broncos, with 23 of Humboldt’s chances coming in the third period.
Flin Flon played host to the Melfort Mustangs on Tuesday night. Results were unavailable at press time.
Next action for Flin Flon will be Saturday when they host the Notre Dame Hounds. So far the season series between the two teams is split at one win each, with the visiting team winning both games.
SJHL Standings excluding yesterday’s games
GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA
Viterra Division
1 Melville Millionaires 36 17 16 2 1 37 89 91
2 Weyburn Red Wings 37 14 16 5 2 35 98 114
3 Estevan Bruins 36 12 18 1 5 30 84 132
4 Yorkton Terriers 34 13 18 1 2 29 84 104
Kramer Division
1 Kindersley Klippers 39 26 8 3 2 57 133 88
2 Notre Dame Hounds 33 20 10 1 2 43 91 82
3 Battlefords North Stars 34 17 11 6 0 40 97 99
4 Humboldt Broncos 34 13 18 3 0 29 83 102
Sherwood Division
1 Melfort Mustangs 38 27 5 2 4 60 136 84
2 Nipawin Hawks 35 22 9 2 2 48 113 98
3 Flin Flon Bombers 34 18 7 5 4 45 120 94
4 La Ronge Ice Wolves 36 14 18 2 2 32 85 125
