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.
It could be a dogfight for two points tonight as the Bombers take on the Yorkton Terriers in their opening game in the Saskatoon Showcase. Though coach/GM Ryan Hoffman is from Yorkton, that game has no special meaning. "It's basically all the same," Hoffman says. "We'll worry about Yorkton first...job number one is to get two points." Defenseman David Holinaty is excited about playing, especially since he just completed a five-game suspension. "I feel pretty good, I'm ready to comeback," Holinaty says. "It sucked. I wish I was out there. You want to make the big play or hit." The Saskatoon native says he believes the Bombers will come out strong as everyone is back together and the team will get back in the swing of things. They're excited about the weekend. "I think it's always good to get on the road," he added. "Get to hang out with the guys and be together." Myles Masse believes the showcase will be a good, intense tournament. "We have a tough schedule against teams," Masse says, as they face Notre Dame and finish up against Humboldt. "I'm very excited and I have heard lots about the tournament," he added. "It's time to make an impact on the league. Show that Flin Flon will be up there this year and we won't get run over." The Bomber defenseman feels the team will score more goals and keep the goals against down as the team has been working on defense. "Everyone seems to be improving every practice," says Masse. "We've been working on passing and break outs, making sharper passes." Hoffman feels that his players have competed very hard as they did some controlled scrimmage and looked to correct a few things and errors made on the weekend. "We spent a lot of time in Monday's practice just working on scoring and baring down in the slot and trying to finish some of our opportunities," Hoffman explained on Tuesday. " I see us continuing to focus on those same things here as we get ready for Friday." One thing Hoffman hopes will give his team an advantage in this tournament is the number of games in as many nights. "We're used to these playing three in three nights on the road," he says. "We do it three or four, five times every year. If anything, that might be a bit of an advantage we have over some other teams that don't go on extended road trips." With all 12 SJHL teams playing during the weekend, it's a preview to the competition. "Yeah, it's a good chance for an evaluation tool to see everybody, you know all the other 11 teams and their rosters and what they look like," Hoffman explains. "Now's the time of year where everybody has a few extra guys around, and guys are looking to make some little moves, there is some player movement at this time of year."
