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.
HBMS is Flin Flon's main industry, but the Flin Flon Bombers organization is key too. "Clubs are an economic vehicle," the SJHL president, Laury Ryan, explained during an interview following Flin Flon's game two win against Melfort. "People don't understand that aspect." He stated that most of these community-owned non-profit organizations have $300,000 to $400,000 budgets. While the SJHL has a deficit, it's been reduced by 30 to 40 per cent. "It is tough to get into exact numbers as we do not know what is occurring this year," Ryan said in an e-mail. "We are a year behind in the figures and work from the last years audited statements." One of the things helping is fan support. In his statement to the league, Ryan talked about solid attendance. The average attendance was 841, down from 870 last year, and Ryan figures the NHL lockout helped out with their record breaking season. Even with that decline, he feels it's a healthy situation and that corporate sponsors are key. The other important factor was changing the playoff format. "Teams can't afford to be out of the playoffs for too long," Ryan said, about the Bombers and the league in general. "It's good for both the league and the team." He added that changing the format to allow five teams in was good and admits it was done for economic reasons. "That improves the league to move forward," he said. Another boost to the quality of the league is that Battlefords', Nipawin, and Yorkton finished with 81 points. "It will be interesting to see who comes out," Ryan said. "I couldn't pick." One of the main things Ryan discussed is how organizations need community support to make the game pay for itself. This statement places an emphasis for how important fundraising is. Bombers president, Duke Rodnisky, said the team's financial status is no different than most organizations-not good. What is different is that teams are now working together off the ice to help each other and the league has discovered a formula to calculate how visiting teams benefit communities with bringing money. Rodnisky figures over $2 million is generated in communities through people going to the bar after games, visiting teams going to restaurants etc. but, was unable to back this figure without having the information. "It's no longer one guy looking out for himself," Rodnisky said during the pre-game warm-up of game four against Melfort. "For a lot of years it's been, what can I do to win," he stated. Losing Bomber negativity Rodnisky stated that to get on the right track, tough choices had to be made. One of those tough decisions was releasing former coach Ryan Hoffman prior to the agreed date (November 15) on his contract, which forced the Bombers to pay out his remaining salary. "People feel more positive about the team and are impressed with Doug (Stokes)," Rodnisky said. "Optimism exists. There was a lot of negativism for a lot of years." Heading into the playoffs, Rodnisky feels that what might anger people is a lack of effort. People want bang for their buck. "The core faithful- they are very knowledgeable and know progression," Rodnisky acknowledged. "You can't ask for more if you get the best. The organization is on the right track and having Doug helps."6/3/06
