With nearly a dozen rookies on the roster, first-year athletes have certainly played important roles in the Flin Flon Bombers’ success this season.
For the 11th straight season, the Bombers have earned a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff spot. The team has never missed the postseason under the guidance of head coach Mike Reagan, a former Bombers’ player who grew up in the community. The rookies have definitely been important to the team’s success.
“What I’ve enjoyed is that we have had such a big group of young guys with so many personalities and they have come a long way into buying into what we are as a team,” Reagan said. “It’s always easier to manage and get four or five guys to buy in but when you have nine or 10, it takes a commitment from them.”
With a number of players moving on after the Bombers made it to the SJHL finals in 2017 for the second straight time, Reagan and his staff restocked the roster with talented young players. On the SJHL website, eleven current Bombers are marked with an asterisk – denoting they are rookies.
Each rookie has played a role while making the step up to the junior A level. Forward Donavan Houle-Villeneuve of Montreal came to the SJHL after playing high school hockey in his hometown.
“The biggest adjustment was the speed of the game,” he said. “Everyone skates faster and make plays faster.”
The Bombers brought in rookies from two American states and four Canadian provinces. While they are from different places, they have appreciated the junior hockey experience Flin Flon provides.
“The best part about playing for the Bombers has been the hometown feeling all the fans give to us,” forward Caleb Moretz said. “People will say ‘Hi’ and call you by your first name when you’re walking down Main Street or in Co-Op. That’s something you will never get in a big city and it’s the thing I’ve appreciated the most!”
Defenceman Calvon Boots of Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the three nominees for the SJHL’s Rookie of the Year award. He received the Sherwood Division’s top rookie honour. As of Monday, Boots led the
Flin Flon defencemen in goals with 11 and was second in points, behind captain Ben Lanfermann, with 25. Boots, who was honoured to be nominated, said his goal is to eventually play hockey at the NCAA Division I level while earning a degree.
“It’s great to see that I am making progress to where I want to be, but I feel like I have a lot more to offer and this is just the beginning,” he said. “This is just a step in the right direction, and I greatly appreciate the recognition.”
Boots is one of four rookies on the seven player deep Bombers blue line. Winnipegger Mason Martin has earned the coaching staff’s trust and earned a top four role. He had four points this season, as of Monday.
Vaughn Bamford of Tsawwassen, BC and Darien, Conn.’s Doug Johnson hail from opposite sides of North America but both have contributed. Bamford had 11 points in 45 games, while Johnson had two in 21. Behind the defencemen is rookie goaltender Niklas Anderson of Winnipeg. He had played in 11 games this season.
Up front, the Bombers’ two other Fairbanks products have had strong rookie seasons. Caleb Moretz was third on the team in points with 36, including 10 goals. Ethan Daniels was two spots behind with 26 points. He had 13 goals.
A pair of Winnipeggers have also contributed to the Bombers forward group this season. Dawson McKenzie had 21 points, while Dylan Burton had accumulated 15, including six goals.
Houle-Villeneuve had scored seven goals and posted 17 points. Calgary’s Mike Wong had eight points in 25 games.
