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 Hapnot Collegiate Institute Kopper Kweens travelled to Thompson the weekend of Sept. 30 to play in the zone playdowns. Their first game was on Friday (Sept. 30), with games also on Saturday. If attitude, work ethic and determination mean anything, the next stop will be Minnedosa for the provincial playoffs. The previous weekend the team travelled to Swan River to participate in a warm up tournament against Swan River and Thompson. Prior to the first game against Thompson, both teams, coaches and officials observed a moment of silence in memory of Shayne Pearson. The game itself was fast, with play going end to end. In the first half, a very fast Thompson squad were marginally ahead on possession, but for both teams, scoring chances were scarce. The second half saw Hapnot take control. A lack of offense meant both teams were tied 0-0 at the end of 70 minutes. The game so good there was a standing ovation from fans to show their appreciation. During the two extra time periods, both teams had opportunities to score, good goalkeeping, plus the woodwork however saved both teams. The dreaded penalty shoot out ensued, with Thompson coming out on top 5-4. Both teams left the field satisfied with a good performance, but with only 30 minutes before the next game, the Flin Flon squad had no time to rest on their laurels. Understandably tired legs started the second game against a very big, strong Swan River side made up of mainly senior players. Against the odds, Flin Flon spent most of the first half in the Swan River end. Superb goalkeeping, and missed opportunities saw both teams go off the field at half time scoreless. In the second half the extra pace of the Swan River, and the experience of senior players, saw them take the lead with a shot from the left hand side of the penalty box. Two minutes later a Swan River player superbly chipped a shot over the Flin Flon goalie to score a well-taken goal. Undeterred, Flin Flon almost pulled one back, a shot from a difficult angle hit the side netting. The remaining ten minutes saw Swan River defend, and Flin Flon pummel the opposition goal, but the game ended 2-0 for Swan River. The Hapnot team is young, with only a handful of seniors, and to play games of this standard as a team for the first games of the season shows fantastic promise for the future. The team traveled to Thompson with a squad of only 14 as some players were missing due to personal commitments.
