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.
Hard work and a hot goaltender allowed the Flin Flon Bombers to sneak out of last night's game against the Yorkton Terriers with a 3-2 win. The Terriers badly out played the Bombers in the first period, but as the game wore on Flin Flon proved that they could hold their own against one of the top offensive teams in the league. They aren't too shabby on defence either, with the second fewest goals against in the entire SJHL. Francois Laverdiere put on a goaltending clinic allowing only two goals on 47 shots, while at the other end of the ice Kevin Dziaduck did not have his best game, allowing three goals on 25 shots. He was also ejected from the game with 4:36 remaining after shoving the referee. Chad Nehring broke a 0-0 tie with a goal for Yorkton at 18:40 of the first period, with Scott Carpenter and Todd Rusnak assisting. Laverdiere got a piece of the initial shot, but Nehring got to the loose puck first to give the Terriers the lead. Shots on net in the first period were an overwhelming 18-5 in favour of the Terriers. Blake Rolston played his best game of the season, scoring twice for the Bombers including their first goal at 5:37 of the second period from Clete Mastad and Stewart Sjoberg. The goal was similar to Yorkton's first, scored on a goal mouth scramble. Less than a minute later Chris Korchinski put the Terriers ahead, catching the Bombers scrambling in their own end. Jason Wagar assisted on the goal, scored at 6:26 of the second frame. Although Yorkton had enough chances to win the game, it was the Bombers who earned the two points through the hard work and determination of all four lines. They kept to their game plan, won the battles along the boards and got good goaltending when they needed it. In the third period, their hard work paid off. A huge hit by Rolston in Yorkton's zone caused a turnover. Rolston went hard to the net and found a way to beat Dziaduck. The goal at 4:47 of the third period was assisted by Joey Moggach and Clayton Geiger. With eight minutes to play in regulation and the game knotted at 2-2, a bad line change gave the Terriers a shorthanded breakaway. Laverdiere made a game-saving stop as the streaking Yorkton forward tried to put the puck through his legs, and the puck stopped on the goal line. Richard Dupre had a chance to score with six minutes to play but the former Norman Northstar was hauled down, drawing a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Andrew Skrabek netted his 11th goal of the season at the 15:24 mark, with Tyler Beachell and Fritz Sauter assisting. Skrabek gloved a shot off the end glass that missed the target, dropped the puck onto his stick and scored on the wrap around. Dziaduck argued the goal, and shoved the referee during the protest. He was ejected from the game. A minute later, Yorkton's Barry Sparvier was ejected for something he said after a whistle. Tyler Beachell was nailed for cross checking at 16:34, and after killing the penalty, the Bombers killed the rest of the clock to win 3-2 despite being out shot 47-25. Flin Flon scored one power-play goal on four chances, while holding the Terriers scoreless on their four chances. Last night's game proved that the Bombers can compete with anyone, erasing the bitter taste left from their 8-0 loss in Yorkton on October 23. There were many unsung heroes from last night's game. Without naming them all, the young defencemen on the team played some of the best hockey fans have seen from them all season. Next up for the Bombers is a three-game road trip against northern opponents, starting Friday in Nipawin, moving to the Battlefords on Saturday and finishing with an afternoon game in Kindersley on Sunday.
