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.
Memorable firsts were accomplished by two Flin Flon Bombers during a 4-0 blanking of the Nipawin Hawks at the Whitney Forum on Tuesday night. Goalie Mike Nichol earned his first career SJHL shutout while making 33 saves while newcomer Dustyn Clegg, acquired from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL, scored the Bombers' fourth goal in his first game with the team. With 7:39 remaining in the third, Clegg collected his own rebound at the side of the net and buried it across the other top corner on Hawks netminder Derek Kleinsteuber. "It felt really good to be out here," Clegg said. "Getting a little bit of ice time, more than I was getting out there (with the Bull Dogs) and it's a really good place to play, it seems like. The crowd's unreal." Clegg's goal caused fans to start chanting "we want chicken" as the Bombers needed one more goal for the Chicken Chef's five-goal explosion offer to kick in and provide fans in attendance with a free meal. The newest rookie said it feels good to be a Bomber and felt the team played well, especially Nichol. The Brandon native earned his sixth win by stopping 33 shots as the Hawks couldn't solve him, even when causing havoc in front of the net. "I thought the team was excellent," Nichol said. "I mean Doug's (Stokes, the Bombers coach-GM) been talking about cutting down on odd-man rushes and scoring chances to give ourselves more of a chance. We kind of shoot ourselves in the foot when we give up too many chances and don't capitalize on our own. "For myself personally, it feels good, and for the team it feels good," he said of the shutout. The veteran goalie feels the team overhaul that brought Nick Colliton, Jordan Cherney, Kyle Lundale, and Clegg has provided a boost. "We're trying to play a more defensive game and you see the result tonight," Nichol explained. "Third win in a row tonight and it feels good in the room." Not only did Nichol feel the team's performance was phenomenal, but Stokes was pleased, too. "I thought we played well in a lot of areas," Stokes said. "The only area of concern, I guess, was you can't give up nine or 10 power plays a night and hope to win a lot of hockey games." See 'Stokes' P.# Con't from P.# Following the first period, Stokes spoke with the officials to make sure they knew they should be making calls both ways. The visitors went 0-9 on their PP, while the Bombers went 1-6 and scored on Lundale's game-winning goal. The rest of the offence was provided by rookie Shawn McNulty, who got his third goal and Dennis Kubat, with his team-leading 16th. Stokes also liked how his team protected their goalie. "I really thought we did a good job of collapsing in our zone on our net and we give Mike sight lines to pucks," he said. "He played very, very solid. We didn't give up that second and third opportunity that we have in the past." What's in the past is the losing streak that had the team down. With the Bombers only four points behind the La Ronge Ice Wolves for the final playoff spot as of Tuesday, things are looking up. With three wins in four games, the Bombers look to extend the streak tonight against the Battlefords North Stars, who will play the Bombers again tomorrow at the Whitney Forum. The Bombers head into today's game with a record of 11-18.
