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 dropped their preseason record to 2-2-1 on the weekend, suffering a loss and settling for a tie in action with teams from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. On Friday night, the Bombers hosted the Swan Valley Stampeders, where the visiting team doubled up on them 4-2. Justin Wright had the only goal of the first period for the visitors, scoring at 6:54, assisted by Kregg Guestin and former Bomber Brennen Giroux. The teams shared 15 minor penalties, five majors and five misconducts in the opening frame, many coming after Bradey Fidierchuk was mauled in the crease by a Swan player. Eric Knutson and Kevin Burwell came to his defence, and both were ejected because of it, along with a handful of Stampeders. The Bombers struggled defensively in the second period, and as a result, the Stampeders struck twice to take a 3-0 lead heading into the dressing room after 40 minutes of play. Ryan Bettesworth scored at 5:59 from Justin Falk and Greg Douglas, and then at 7:16 it was Jared Semple beating goaltender Micheal Pilote, with assists from Luke Levesque and TJ Parkinson. It was a chippy second period, with a total of 18 minors, three majors and three misconducts handed out by the referee. With short benches in the third period, both teams settled down to concentrate on hockey. Quinn McIntosh got the Bombers on the board at 2:23 of the third period, with assists from Stewart Sjoberg and Ryan Cosgrove. Andrew Skrabek scored the Bombers' second goal at 8:07, with Jordan Pawelec and Jimo King assisting, but a third period goal by Swan Valley's Greg Douglas stamped out any chance of a Flin Flon comeback. Only seven minor penalties were called in the third period. Shots on net were 40-37 in favour of the Stampeders. Micheal Pilote carried the load in net for the Bombers, stopping 36 of the 40 shots he faced. Travis Crickard was perfect in net for Swan Valley in the first half of the game, stopping all 18 shots he faced, while Dale Pettit allowed two goals on 19 shots. The Bombers failed to score on 10 power-play chances, while the Stampeders were held scoreless on eight tries. Nearly 1,000 hockey fans were treated to a spirited battle between the Bombers and the OCN Blizzard at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre on Saturday, many making the trip from Flin Flon to The Pas. After a rough first period, the Blizzard led 2-1 on goals by Kiel Wilgosh and Tim Hammil. Tyler Waycott assisted on both goals, and Ryan Murray assisted on the second score. Both Blizzard goals came on the power play. See 'Bombers' P.# Con't from P.# Andrew Skrabek opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 3:13, but Wilgosh's goal came just 24 seconds later. A total of 16 minors, 12 majors and 14 misconducts were handed out in the opening frame. In the second period, the teams focused on playing the game, and the Bombers took advantage with three goals. Tyler Beachell scored shorthanded from Stewart Sjoberg at 4:30. Jesse Reusch replied for OCN at 7:30, with Waycott adding his third assist of the night. Joey Moggach scored a power-play goal at 13:43 from Keith Spencer and Quinn McIntosh, and Sjoberg's goal at 16:40 gave Flin Flon the lead, assisted by Robert Grochmar. The only goal of the third period came from OCN's Tim Hammil, with 54 seconds remaining to tie the game. Flin Flon out shot OCN 41-34. Denny Stephen made 30 saves in net for the Bombers, while Dave Herman was slightly busier, making 37 saves for the Blizzard. On the power play, the Bombers scored three goals on six chances, while the Blizzard converted on two of their 11 chances. Trade In other Bomber news, the team connected with the Nipawin Hawks for a trade on Thursday. The Bombers get defenceman Jesse Youzwa from the Hawks, while Nipawin receives forward Derek Reid. The 19-year-old Youzwa had two goals and two assists in 42 games last season, while 18-year-old Reid is a graduate of the Swift Current Legionnaires, where he had eight goals and 23 assists in 32 games last season. Reid was in the lineup for Nipawin on Friday night, when the Hawks hosted the OCN Blizzard. He had two goals in their 6-4 loss. Next action for the Bombers is Tuesday night in Nipawin, when they take on Derek Reid and the Hawks. It will be Flin Flon's final exhibition game, where they will try to improve on their 2-2-1 record. Last year the Bombers had a 1-4-1 record against the Hawks. The Bombers will open the regular season on Friday when they host the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
