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.
Inside the Dressing Room, a section on the SJHL's website, gives a glance at what teams have done during the off season to improve or maintain success. Interviews were conducted with each coach. Here's what was reported regarding the Flin Flon Bombers. The general feeling around Flin Flon these days is not that of a league doormat, which is what they were for the last few seasons. That is because coach-GM Doug Stokes, a midseason hire behind the bench, led the Bombers into the 2005-06 playoffs and they even won game seven against the Melfort Mustangs during the Elimination Series before bowing to the Battlefords North Stars in the Itech Conference semi-finals in five games. "I don't know if we have turned the corner. The season did end on a positive note, but I am not satisfied with a one round playoff win. I coached teams that ended up in the MJHL finals fourteen times; but I guess this is a step in the right direction," said Stokes. "I think as we get set for training camp, there is a good foundation of skill and ability; but we need to learn how to win. There might have been some acceptance to the struggling of the past. I thought towards the end of the year we started to believe in ourselves and hopefully that continues,," The recruiting wars have gone well too with Saskatchewan Midget 'AAA' Hockey League MVP Calvin Bartel agreeing to join the fold to compete for the role of number one goaltender with incumbent Travis Crickard. "We are high on Calvin. I don't think a player can walk away with the MVP award very easily playing in what, I consider, to be the best Midget 'AAA' hockey league in the country. Travis didn't get many starts early in the season, but I thought he got stronger and stronger as the season wore on. We have something to build on," said Stokes. Returning forwards Blake Rolston and Dennis Kubat will be looked upon to play big time roles on the offensive end of things. An interesting player to watch once training camp begins is 1988 born forward Chris Pache, who played Junior 'B' for the North Winnipeg Satelites, a club coached by Doug's son, Trevor. He was their second leading scorer during the regular season and ramped up his game in the playoffs, including receiving some recognition at the Western Canadian Championship, the Keystone Cup, in Campbell River, B.C.
