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.
A goal from Cole Gibson in the third period tied things up at two between the Flin Flon Bombers and the La Ronge Ice Wolves in ThursdayÕs game. The next goal should have sealed the deal for the visiting Flin Flon team, but Tommy CastonguayÕs goal was disallowed Ð keeping the score tied at two. Referees made the call that the puck was knocked in by CastonguayÕs glove. But head coach and GM Mike Reagan begs to differ as he could see from the bench his player knocked it in with his stick. As well, Castonguay said the puck went off his stick. ÒTommy is an honest player,Ó says Reagan. ÒAnd if he says he hit it in with his stick, I believe him.Ó Though the coach and player say the puck went in, the goal was not counted for the Bombers. ÒItÕs pretty frustrating when you score the go-ahead goal and itÕs disallowed,Ó says Reagan. The teams were forced into overtime. And when nothing came from that, La Ronge and Flin Flon faced off in a shoot out. The home team, the Ice Wolves, came out on top with a win after scoring the first, and only, goal in the final event. Each team was given a point, which left the Bombers tied for second place in the Itech Conference with the Melfort Mustangs, while the Ice Wolves were moved to third place. Going into ThursdayÕs game the Bombers were in their usual state of mind. ÒWe always feel confident,Ó says Reagan, when it comes to heading into a game. ÒI think after winning the last two games we were feeling pretty good about our game. ÒLa Ronge is definitely a team we think we should be able to beat.Ó When it came to the game, the coach says the first period was a great show for the Bombers. ÒWe played a really good (period),Ó he says. But in Òthe second, we were pretty bad.Ó With the score 2-1 for the Ice Wolves going into the third, the Bombers knew they had to pick up their socks. And they did. ÒWe dominated,Ó says Reagan. And as CastonguayÕs goal was disallowed in the third period, the team was feeling frustrated going into overtime, which was a first for them this season. ÒWe should even have gone to overtime,Ó says Reagan. In overtime the Bombers were on a power play, but were unable to get to the net. But the coach says, in regulation time, this isnÕt the first time this has happened. ÒWe have to get consistent on our power plays,Ó he says. Reagan says there have been opportunities to win the hockey game on power plays, but the specialty team doesnÕt always pull through. But giving credit to the Bombers, the coach says they played a great third period and had Òall the momentum.Ó The following is a game summary from ThursdayÕs game between the Bombers and the Ice Wolves: Fans in the Mel Hegland Arena were on their feet in the first period as Hubert Joncas got past Calvin Bartel before the 1:30 mark on the clock with an unassisted goal. The Ice Wolves took an early lead, but the Bombers answered back 10 minutes later with a goal from Devin Mitzner, assisted by Dominic Martel. Bartel let one of the Ice WolveÕs nine shots past him, but the Bombers fired off eight in the first period. And both teams were given a few penalties as the Bombers were called on hooking, checking to the head and fighting. Doug McLeod was given five minutes in the box for fighting with Doug Lindensmith, who was given two minutes for elbowing as well as a fighting call. The second period, which according to the coach, wasnÕt the greatest effort by the Bombers, had the Ice Wolves score their second goal of the game. Lindensmith was back on the ice and looking for the mesh as he got past Bartel with a nine minute goal. The Bombers stayed off the game sheet completely as the Ice Wolves served the only two penalties. See 'Shootout' on pg. Continued from pg. But Flin Flon did have nine shots on net, against La RongeÕs 13. Gibson was next on the docket for the Bombers as he got past Jonathon Jobin at the nine minute mark, with an assist from Harley Garrioch, on a power play. It was later when CastonguayÕs goal was not counted, but the Maroon and White had 13 shots on net. Going into the over time, Bartel faced two shots on net, saving both of them. From there, the teams went into a shootout. It was shooter against the goalie. Bartel was in net first, but was unable to stop LindensmithÕs goal, giving the Ice Wolves the goal they needed to win. Reagan put Castonguay, Alex Lamontagne and Reid McLeod on the ice, but they couldnÕt get past Jobin. Flin Flon was home last night to take on the Battlefords North Stars in their first home game since their double-header against the Melville Millionaires. Please see WednesdayÕs paper for further details.
