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.
Being crowned Northern Manitoba champions was the icing on the cake after a successful season for the Flin Flon AA Bombers. The squad of nine- and 10-year-olds won three of four games over the Easter long weekend to capture the coveted Munn Cup in Thompson. "It was all just good team hockey," said coach Wade Schiltroth. The young Bombers headed into the tournament with cold legs, having played just one week of house league action and taken part in one practice over the previous month. Facing off against The Pas Huskies in game one, it took Flin Flon a couple of periods to find their game. They narrowly lost that match-up 6-5 but having warmed up would go on a tear for the remainder of the weekend. They downed the Interlake Select AA team 3-2 in the second game and crushed the Thompson King Miners 7-3 in game three. The close-fought final saw the Bombers battle Interlake a second time and again come away with a one-goal triumph, this time 4-3. "It was just a huge effort all the way and it meant a lot when they brought that (cup) home," said Shelley Williamson, whose son Tyler is assistant captain. The Munn Cup victory concluded an outstanding season in which the Bombers failed to capture gold or silver just once, at the provincials held in Flin Flon. "We played well in provincials but we ended up losing all three games," said Schiltroth. Just like the pros, these little guys had to overcome a few bumps and bruises throughout the campaign, not to mention a concussion and a broken ankle. "Battling injuries, they came out on top," commented Williamson. "It was a huge effort and a great way to cap the year off." The nearly 40-year-old Munn Cup will remain in Thompson with the Bombers' name freshly engraved. Each player, however, got to take home a miniature version of the trophy. The Flin Flon AA Bombers consist of goalies Taylor Kittle and Josh Foster; captain Isaac Jackson; assistant captains Tyler Williamson, Nathan Schiltroth and Rylan Nivon; and Isaac Jays; Adam Hilts; Brennen Van Meer; Thom Hair; Randy Nowlin; Aaron Hilts; Darwin Morin; Layne McCallum; and Josh Nowlin. Joining Schiltroth behind the bench are assistant coaches Troy Hilts and Luc Nivon. Flin Flon last won the Munn Cup in 2007.
