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.
A former Flin Flon Bomber is helping other junior hockey players continue their playing careers while receiving a quality education. Lyle Hamm, who played for the Bombers between 1982 and 1984, now teaches two hours outside of Calgary, and is an assistant coach with the SAIT Trojans of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC). Hamm grew up in the Creighton/Flin Flon area and played for the Bombers when the team was a part of the Norman League. After leaving the Bombers, he played in Camrose for the Lutheran College, which is now Augustana, who are also a part of the ACAC. After graduating, he remained with the school as their assistant coach from 1989 to 1991, before moving to southern Alberta to become a teacher, where he coached a lot of junior 'B' and midget hockey. Two years ago, Hamm connected with Trojans head coach Ken Babey and signed on as an assistant coach for the 2001/02 season, when SAIT won the league championship. After taking a year off, he returned to the Trojans this past season, and is currently recruiting players for the upcoming school year. As a former Flin Flon Bomber, Hamm is drawn to the gritty, hardworking players of the SJHL. Tonight, he will be in Weyburn to watch game six of the SJHL final. SAIT has already spoken to two members of last year's Flin Flon Bomber squad, who may be trading in their maroon and white jerseys for red and white next season. Anatoliy Moshkovsky and Jeff LaPointe have both shown interest in attending the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology next season and playing for the Trojans. Many players from Flin Flon have gone on to play their college hockey at SAIT, the most recent being Dave Scully and Bob Faktor. The two enjoyed a National Championship together before Scully was forced from the game due to injuries. Faktor played from 1999-2002, finishing his career as an assistant captain, and graduating from college to become a successful architect in Calgary. "He was one of the most effective and hardworking centermen that ever played in our program," said Hamm. "He killed all of our penalties and was the best face-off guy. He was a consummate team player, and would do anything to compete." In his three years with the team, Faktor won two league titles and a national championship, all of which he contributed greatly to. Other Flin Flon guys that played for SAIT include Myles Frame, Kelly Davis, Terry Davis and Trevor Thurstan. "We really try to recruit out of the SJHL," explained Hamm. "They personify the type of player that we want. We want north/south hockey players that aren't flashy, that are courageous, that drive to the net, that hunt for the pucks, that take hits and give out hits, that are disciplined and are team players." The ACAC boasts a highly competitive hockey league, and many players who graduate from SAIT go on to play pro hockey in Europe and North America. SAIT is a tech school, offering diplomas and certificates in a variety of programs. Some program areas include business, construction, energy, information technology, media, tourism, trades and transportation. Students who do not meet the academic requirements of their desired course are able to take a pre-trades course, which allows them to upgrade their education before entering their desired program. With over 12,000 students attending the school annually, SAIT has a broad athletic program, with men's and women's teams in every sport from curling to cross country running to hockey. Head coach Ken Babey has been coaching for 17 years, and is a nationally recognized coach, as a coach for the Under 18 National Men's Team that featured the likes of Jordan Tootoo, Dan Blackburn and Stephen Weis. "He's got a lot of experience," said Hamm. "The kids that are coming to the program are coming into a really well organized, traditional, high caliber hockey program." Players wishing to attend SAIT would be wise to show up at camp in the best shape of their lives. As part of last year's training program, the coaches and players alike hiked six miles up a mountain and six miles back down for a ten-hour team building session. "As a teacher, kids are only as good as you challenge them to be," said Hamm. "Not every kid, but the majority of the kids, and that's what we do at SAIT. We challenge them to be better." For more information on SAIT, call 1-877-284-SAIT or visit www.sait.ca.
