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 Midget AA Bombers travelled to Swan River on March 11, 12 and 13 to participate in the Hockey Manitoba Provincial Playoffs. Eight teams were divided into two pools consisting of Pool A - Flin Flon Bombers, Thompson King Miners, OCN Storm and the host Swan Valley Stampeders, Pool B - Portage Terriers, The Pas Huskies, Steinbach Millers and Norway Northstars. The Midget AA Bombers' first opponent in round robin play was Thompson with the Bombers defeating the King Miners by a score of 7 to 3. This was a very physical game with special teams making the difference as the Bombers went 5 for 10 on the powerplay while holding the King Miners to just one powerplay goal in 11 opportunities. The score after one period of play was tied 1 to 1, but shots on goal were 21 to 3 in favour of the Bombers who watched helplessly as the Thompson goalie stood on her head. Scoring for Flin Flon was Kiley Spiller with assists going to Walker Wintoneak and Travis Ford. The two teams finished the second period deadlocked at 3, with the Bombers getting goals from Ford from Doyle Bear and just one minute later Rudy Pegg scoring from Cody Rice and Leigh Johnston. The Bombers would break the game wide open in the third with four unanswered by Matthew Kritzer (Rice), Chris Danis (Shawn Norman, Tanner Korchinski), Wintoneak (Spiller, Greg Pruden) and finally Spiller (Pruden). Shayne Pearson faced 17 shots in the Flin Flon net while the Bombers peppered 52 shots at the Thompson netminder who was her team's game star. Kiley Spiller earned game star honours for the Bombers. Flin Flon's second game on Friday saw them up against the host Swan Valley Stampeders with the Bombers earning a hard fought 5-2 victory. Once again special teams played an important role as the Bombers were 2/8 on the powerplay while holding the Stamps scoreless on seven powerplay attempts. The teams battled to a 1-1 tie after two periods with the Bomber goal coming off the stick of Wintoneak 56 seconds into the game, assists to Spiller and Pruden. The Bombers would come out in the third with a bang scoring two quick goals with Wintoneak from Spiller on the powerplay followed by Spiller from Wintoneak and Korchinski. They would score two more goals late in the third to seal the victory with Wintoneak completing his hat trick from Spiller and Tyler Oulette. Oulette would add one of his own a minute later on the powerplay on a beautiful feel from Ashton Crone. Swan River would add a late goal to make it 5-2. A solid effort in net by Blair Chaisson who faced 20 shots helped eliminate the host team from the medal round. Star of the game for the Bombers was Walker Wintoneak. The Midget Bombers' only game on Saturday put them up against the OCN Storm who were also supporting a 2 and 0 record. This game would turn into a very chippy affair with the Bombers going 1/10 on the powerplay and OCN converting on 3 of 15 chances. OCN would open the scoring just 21 seconds into the opening frame but the Bombers would tie it late in the period on a goal by Crone from Wintoneak. The second period belonged to the Bombers who scored four unanswered goals in a 3 1/2 minute span to chase the netminder and open up a 5-1 lead. Goal scorers were Kritzer (Wintoneak, Spiller) on the powerplay, Norman (Pruden) on a beautiful passing play. Just 39 seconds later Wintoneak (Spiller) would find the back of the net followed by Ford (Wintoneak) who rounded out the Bomber scoring. At this point, the game had become very chippy with neither team displaying much discipline. The third period would belong to the Storm who came out playing hockey while the Bombers continued with their lack of discipline taking eight minors and one major penalty to the OCN's one minor. Penalty trouble would prove to be the undoing of the Bombers as OCN would score four unanswered goals including three on the powerplay to tie the score at 5. The game tying goal was scored with just 24 seconds left on the clock. Shayne Pearson had an outstanding game in the Bomber net making 36 saves including 19 in the final frame facing four 5 on 3 situations. Greg Pruden was toiled like a workhorse throughout the entire game took home the Player of Game honours. Flin Flon would finish up the Round Robin portion the tournament tied with OCN with 5 points, but finished behind them in third due to goals for and against. Norway House would finish first with six points and play Steinbach who finished fourth with four points in one semi-final game while the other semi-final pitted OCN (second) against Flin Flon (third). See 'Special' P.# Con't from P.# A different Bomber team showed up for this semi-final game as they took only seven minor penalties during the course of the game and outscored OCN 8-1. Special teams proved to be the difference as the Bombers went 4/8 on the powerplay and were perfect on the penalty kill holding OCN scoreless on seven powerplay attempts. The first period would end with the Bombers up 3-1 on goals by Kritzer (Crone, Jacobson), Kritzer again on a feed from Rice and finally Spiller with Ford drawing the assist. After a scoreless second period the Bombers completed the rout with five unanswered goals in the third period including four powerplay goals. Wintoneak started the barrage with an unassisted marker. Wintoneak then would set up Oulette for a powerplay goal followed by Pruden with his first of two with Spiller drawing the assist. Leigh Johnston on the powerplay with an electrifying solo rush scored with the helpers going to Wintoneak and Kritzer. Pruden with his second of the game rounded out the scoring with the assist going to Norman. Chaisson had a good game in net stopping all but one of the 19 shots he faced, while the Bombers fired 52 shots at the two OCN netminders. Game star was awarded to Kiley Spiller. The victory would send the Midget AA Bombers into the Gold Medal game against the Norway House Northstars who downed the Steinbach Millers to advance to the final. The Midget Bombers would cap off a very successful weekend with an excellent showing but would fall just short dropping a 6-5 2OT decision to the Northstars. Jacobson would open the scoring for the Bombers with a wicked wrist shot to the top corner on a set up by Wintoneak and Crone. Norway House would reply with a goal of their own one minute later but Wintoneak assisted by Pruden would restore the one goal lead just 24 seconds later. The rest of the period would see each team get numerous opportunities as the action went end to end, but on each occasion the goaltender would stand his ground. Norway House would strike first in the second period with a powerplay goal, but the Bombers would answer back with two powerplay goals of their own by Spiller (Wintoneak, Korchinski) followed by Wintoneak (Spiller) to end the second with the Bombers up 4-2. The wheels would fall off the Bomber bus for the first five minutes of the third as the Northstars would tally three times including two on the powerplay to take their first lead of the game 5-4. The lead would be shortlived, however, as just over a minute later Kritzer found the back of the net from Pegg and Rice to knot the game at five. The action for the final 13 minutes was fast and furious with each team attempting to pot the winner, but regulation time ended with the score 5-5. Flin Flon dominated the first OT session producing the best scoring chances but due to clutch goaltending and missed opportunities were unable to score the clincher. The battle continued into the second OT period going end to end providing excellent entertainment for all the parents and fans. Finally at 12:37 of the second OT period Norway House would score the game winner shortly after the Bombers had successfully killed off a penalty thus ending the Bombers' gold medal hopes. This was one of those games where unfortunately there had to be a loser, but there is no shame in accepting the silver medal. The entire team played up to and beyond all expectations and should be very proud of the effort they put forth. Pearson faced 46 shots and turned in an excellent performance while the Bombers managed 26 shots at the two Northstar netminders. Player of the game for the silver medalist Bombers was Walker Wintoneak who once again turned in an outstanding effort. The end of the game also marked the end of the minor hockey careers for five of the Bomber players. The Midget Bombers would like to wish all the best to the five graduating players, Greg Pruden, Leigh Johnston, Cody Rice, Tyler Oulette and Brent Neufeld, in whatever endeavour they choose to pursue in life. The Midget AA Bombers would like to thank all the parents, grandparents and fans who have supported them in making this a very successful season.
