Well, this one didn’t go as the Flin Flon Bombers drew it up.
The Bombers, less than one week after putting up 10 on the Battlefords North Stars, gave up 10 at Mel Hegland Uniplex in La Ronge Friday night, losing 10-5 on the road.
Easton Haygarth was the Bombers’ best offensive player earlier on, opening the scoring for Flin Flon in the first minute, then making it 2-1 Bombers following a La Ronge goal.
From there, it was all Ice Wolves, all the time. Samson Mouland tied the game up late in the first, then Jake Gudjonson got the Ice Wolves a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
In the second, the Ice Wolves got four goals, with Jordan Mish scoring twice and Aaron Greyeyes and Logan Holm adding singles. Billy Klymchuk added another for the Bombers, but the game was 7-3 La Ronge after two periods.
Dane Hirst got the Bombers within three, but Ben Manson and Chad McIlwain put the game further out of reach. Rowan Barnes scored late in the third to put the Ice Wolves into double digits. Caleb Franklin added one in the last few moments, putting a bandaid on a giant gaping wound of a game.
Jacob Delorme, playing his 11th straight game in the Bomber net, was peppered, making 38 saves on 46 shots. His backup, Flin Flon-born midget affiliate player Rylan Potkonjak, stepped into the crease in garbage time and played the last eight minutes, making one save.
Liam McGarva got the win, making 27 stops.
The Bombers remain tops in the Sherwood Division, but lose ground on Battlefords in the race for first place in the SJ – the Stars beat Notre Dame 6-3 Friday night, moving Battlefords 12 points clear with 62 points in 38 games compared to Flin Flon’s 50 in 34.
The Bombers will play at home against La Ronge Saturday night, then will head out for holiday break. They’ll be back in action again with another home-and-home against La Ronge, starting at the Whitney Forum Jan. 3.
