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.
The Flin Flon Bombers missed a glorious opportunity to gain some ground on the Nipawin Hawks in the race for the final playoff spot on Wednesday night, losing to the La Ronge Ice Wolves by a score of 5-4. Flin Flon blew a 3-1 lead, giving up four unanswered goals in the second half of the game. It was the Ice Wolve's first victory in 17 games, momentarily moving them into a tie with the Bombers for fifth place in the Dodge Conference. The Bombers struggled on the power-play, scoring once on 11 chances, while giving up two shorthanded goals to the Wolves. La Ronge was scoreless on eight tries with the man-advantage. Flin Flon's Anatoliy Moshkovsky opened the scoring with an unassisted, shorthanded goal at 8:27 of the first period. Scott Odelien then replied with a shorthanded marker at 14:21 to tie the game after one period of play. Joey Moggach netted his 14th of the season at 6:18 of the second period, assisted by Moshkovsky and Jeff LaPointe, and Derek Blais gave the Bombers a two-goal lead at 8:46, assisted by Bob Graham and Moshkovsky, his third point of the night. It was all downhill from there for Flin Flon, as they allowed three goals in a span of 3:33. Scott Odelien scored at 11:15 to bring the Wolves within one goal of the Bombers, Brent Henley tied the game at 14:27, and Patrick Voll put La Ronge in front at 14:48. La Ronge out shot Flin Flon 28-12 in the second period. Doug Exner scored a shorthanded goal in the third period at the 19:00 mark to give the Wolves a 5-3 lead. Stewart Sjoberg's power-play goal at 19:29 from Jeff LaPointe put the Bombers one goal back of the Wolves, but it was too little, too late. The Bombers were out shot 58-33 in the game, including 16-11 in the final frame. Things don't get any easier for the Bombers as they will be in Humboldt for a pair of games this weekend, starting tonight. The Broncos have lost only one game in their last ten outings, while the Bombers have a 4-4-2 record in their last ten games. Shrapnel Rumours have been circulating that Curtis Peterson and Keith Spencer will be returning to Flin Flon to finish the season. However, this is not the case. Peterson will finish the school at Finlay, who have decided to can their hockey program after this season. While some of his teammates will be without a place to play next season, Curtis has been offered a place to play at another NCAA school. Keith Spencer was not released from the Western Hockey League on their January 8 deadline, and will stay with his team for the rest of the season. Even if he was released tomorrow, the Bombers currently have a full roster of 22 carded players.
