With a young and rookie-laden roster, the Flin Flon Bombers’ four 20-year-old players have tried to help their teammates learn the ropes of junior hockey.
“I’ve really stressed the importance of playing like a Bomber and buying into the systems,” captain Ben Lanfermann said. “If everyone on the team plays the Bomber way, we will have a successful post season.”
Lanfermann and goalie Brenden Newton are both in their third and final seasons with the team. The duo have helped the Bombers make it to the last two Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League finals. With fellow 20-year-olds Jordan McCausland and Tyler Nyman, an assistant captain, unfortunately missing long stretches due to injuries, Lanfermann and Newton have certainly been counted on for leadership.
“I give those two a lot of credit dealing with a young team,” Bombers head coach Mike Reagan said. “Their attitudes have been great and I think they have learned a lot this year about their leadership qualities and being patient. They are two guys that have been to the league finals with us and used that experience to help our younger guys.”
The veterans have taken pride in the development of their younger teammates.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing some of them mature throughout the year and watching our team continuously grow since the start of the season,” Newton said.
Since Newton joined the Bombers, the Medicine Hat product has been a key player in the team’s success. As a rookie, he backstopped the team to big playoff wins. Last season Newton had seven postseason victories, including a shutout, while Flin Flon made it back to the finals. This season he has a 2.98 goals against average and .910 save percentage.
Paradise Hill’s Lanfermann has gone from fighting for a spot in the lineup as a rookie to captaining the team. This season he has career highs of seven goals, 24 assists, and 31 points. Lanfermann plays a physical game. He is second on the team in penalty minutes, with 119, to Chrystopher Collin’s 125.
Nyman, who is from Centerville, Minn., and Brandon’s McCausland came to the Bombers last season in trades and helped the team make it back to the league finals. Nyman has nine points in 27 games this season. McCausland has posted seven in 30 games. The duo has battled injuries this year. For example, Nyman played on Feb. 27 for the first time since Dec. 16. He spent some time back home in Minnesota.
“The thing I missed most with being away for so long was the fun times and memories you have with your teammates and even feeling like you are a part of a team is nice to have again,” Nyman said.
The 20-year-olds have enjoyed their time suiting up for the Bombers.
“I think the thing I’ve enjoyed most about being a Bomber is the winning atmosphere,” McCausland said. “There’s a lot of success in the Whitney and, yes, our record could be better this year, but we still have amazing support from the fans and the community, which just gives us more confidence heading into playoffs. It’s a special place to play and a privilege to wear the Bomber logo.”
The Bombers this week
Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Yorkton
Yorkton 3, Flin Flon 2 SO
Bombers Scorers: Brandson Hein, Tyler Nyman
Terriers Scorers: Cole Keenleyside, Joshua Dobberthien
Goalies: Brenden Newton, FF, 26 saves on 28 shots; Joe Marcouiller, Yorkton, 35 on 37
Attendance: 425
Notes: After a 1-1 first period, Yorkton took a 2-1 lead in the second. Hein’s goal with less than two minutes left sent the game to overtime. Flin Flon was 0-for-3 in the shootout. Yorkton was 1-for-2 with Dobberthien scoring. It was Nyman’s first game back after an injury. He last played on Dec. 16. “It was exciting to finally be back on the ice. I was really nervous before the game but as soon as my first shift was over it felt natural to me again,” Nyman said.
Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Melville
Flin Flon 4, Melville 3 OT
Bombers Scorers: Daylan Marchi (2), Caleb Moretz, Nate Hooper
Millionaires Scorers: Logan Foster, Damian Bentz, Clayton Eisler
Goalies: Brenden Newton, FF, 26 saves on 29 shots; Brandon Wells, Melville, 33 on 37
Attendance: 485
Notes: Moretz scored the game winner in overtime. He had two points on the night. Melville led 2-0 after the first period. Flin Flon lit the lamp twice in the second period to tie the game. The Bombers scored first in the third period, but the Millionaires were able to answer on a power play. Flin Flon’s Ethan Daniels and Melville’s Bentz fought in the third period and received game misconducts. “I think just sticking with it and wanting it more than them is why we were able to come from behind,” Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan said. “We have been pretty good at that this second half.”
Friday, March 2 at Wilcox
Flin Flon 4, Notre Dame 3
Bombers Scorers: Calvon Boots (2), Ethan Daniels, Dylan Burton
Hounds Scorers: Chance Longjohn, Keigan Callander, Marshall Wilton
Goalies: Colten Lancaster, FF, 36 saves on 39 shots; Riley Kohonick, Melville, 21 on 25 Attendance: 432 Notes: Boots had the game winner on a power play in the third period. Flin Flon was 2-for-3 on the power play. The Hounds were 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Nyman had two assists. Notre Dame led 2-1 at the first intermission. Flin Flon tied the game with less than two minutes left in the second period. Machi had two assists.
Saturday, March 3 at Estevan
Estevan 5, Flin Flon 3
Bombers Scorers: Calvon Boots, Daylan Marchi, Ethan Daniels
Bruins Scorers: Hayden Guilderson, Tanner Manz, Zach Goberis, Michael McChesney, Jake Fletcher Goalies: Brenden Newton FF, 43 saves on 47 shots; Bo Didur, Estevan, 31 on 34
Attendance: 883
Notes: Estevan led 2-1 and 4-1 at the intermissions. Flin Flon outscored the Bruins 2-1 in the third period. Bomber Alex Lindstrom had two assists. “I thought it was a good road trip,” Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan said. “We just ran out of gas in the last game and made some mental mistakes that cost us.”
Who’s Hot
Ethan Daniels recorded five points last week. He had two points against both Melville and Notre Dame. The rookie from Alaska scored two goals last week. Daylan Marchi had four points last week. He has posted career highs of 14 goals and 29 points already this season.
Odds ’n’ Ends
The Bombers and Melville Millionaires are battling for ninth-place in the standings. As of Monday, Flin Flon held a two-point lead, 52-50. Both teams have two games remaining. Flin Flon holds the tie-breaker. … Both Flin Flon and Melville have been playing well. The Bombers earned five out of a possible six points on its four-game road trip last week. Melville has not lost in regulation in last eight games. … The Wild Card series pit No. 7 vs. No. 10. and No. 8 against No. 9. As of Monday, that would mean Flin Flon would play Notre Dame with Weyburn taking on Melville. … Flin Flon has a 22-26-3-5 record. … The SJHL website features an audio interview with Brendan Phelps who coaches the Rocky Mountain Roughriders in Colorado, where three current Bombers from Alaska played last season. … The SJHL annual award winners were: RBC Player of the Year – Layne Young, Battlefords; SGEU Most Valuable Player – Young; IBAS Top Defenseman – Josh McDougall, Nipawin; SaskTel Top Goaltender – Justen Close, Kindersley, and Declan Hobbs, Nipawin; DirectWest Rookie of the Year – Cade Kowalski, Weyburn, and Jacob Wasserman, Humboldt; and Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year – Doug Johnson, Nipawin.
The Quote
“I think the guys just wanted to win in Notre Dame. It’s a potential matchup in the playoffs so we needed to make a statement.” Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan on his team’s 4-3 win over the Hounds
