The Flin Flon Bombers increased their winning streak to five games with a 4-2 win over the visiting Notre Dame Hounds last Saturday, Jan. 10.
With the win, the Bombers improved to 20-7-5-4 on the season, leapfrogging the idle Nipawin Hawks for second place in the Sherwood Division and third overall in the SJHL.
“The team played a hard-working physical game,” said assistant coach Gary Childerhose, who took over as bench boss while head coach Mike Reagan manned the phones as Saturday was also the CJHL trade deadline day. “The keys to victory were putting pucks on net and getting traffic in front of our net, and finishing all of our checks.”
The Hounds drew first blood, scoring the only goal of the first period, but the Bombers stuck to their game plan and stepped up their play in the second period, getting rewarded with a pair of goals.
Alex Smith popped in a rebound at 4:40 for his 16th of the year, and then Austin Calladine got a huge monkey off his back, scoring his first goal since Nov. 19 to make it 2-1 at 13:32. It was his 10th goal of the season.
Chris Rauckman scored the eventual game winner at 11:18 of the third period, his 25th of the season.
The Hounds came within one, scoring at 17:28 of the third period to make it a 3-2 game, but Brandon Switzer send the puck into the empty net with goaltender Alexi Thibaudeau sitting on the Notre Dame bench in favour of the extra attacker, and 4-2 was the way this one would end.
The Bombers outshot the Hounds 42-32, and Simon Hofley made 30 saves to earn the win. It was his first W since Nov. 29.
SJHL point leaders
(excluding yesterday’s games)
T. Mayan, MFT, 27G, 32A, 59P
O. LaClare, KIN, 26G, 24A, 50P
D. DeRoose, KIN, 19G, 25A, 44P
C. Rauckman, FF, 25G, 13A, 38P
A. Fauchoux, MFT, 18G, 20A, 38P
A. Smith, FF, 16G, 21A, 37P
C. Thudium, NIP, 16G, 19A, 35P
J. Boyer, MFT, 15G, 19A, 34P
D. Allison, FF, 11G, 22A, 33P
K, Spriggs, NIP, 9G, 24A, 33P
C. Young, KIN, 13G, 19A, 32P
T. Frei, MFT, 10G, 22A, 32P
M. Dubeau, KIN, 10G, 22A, 32P
G. Dunlop, NIP, 11G, 20A, 31P
S. Aulie, NOT, 10G, 21A, 31P
R. Delainey, BAT, 14G, 16A, 30P
C. Hyrsky, MEL, 13G, 17A, 30P
B. McKay, WEY, 9G, 21A, 30P
C. Coben, NIP, 18G, 11A, 29P
D. Case, KIN, 14G, 15A, 29P
