The Flin Flon Bombers got back to winning ways Friday with a 4-1 triumph over the Nipawin Hawks on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Eric Sinclair scored the first goal of the game midway through the first period, triggering a cascade of stuffed animals thrown onto the ice by fans. The game was held up for several minutes as dozens of teddy bears were taken from the ice. During the first intermission, a truck loaded with the bears was taken for a victory lap around the ice.
Brandon Lesko, Jason Lavallee and Rylee Zimmer each scored for the Bombers, while Tanner Thompson tallied Nipawin's only goal. Brenden Newton earned the win for Flin Flon with 36 saves.
Two new players made their first home appearance for the Bomber faithful Friday. Defender Troy Williams played his first game as a Bomber, starting on the team's first pairing with captain Braden Lacoursiere. Williams, an 18-year-old from Dryden, ON, was sent to the Bombers in a trade with the MJHL's Steinbach Pistons early Friday. Steinbach acquired 20-year-old defenseman Joseph Leonidas in the trade.
Jordan McCausland also made his home debut for Flin Flon, playing his second game with the team after being acquired from Yorkton. Neither of the new faces scored points for Flin Flon.
The win keeps Flin Flon on top of the Sherwood Division with 36 points on the season, seven points clear of the second-place Hawks. The Bombers will now head to Nipawin Saturday night for the second half of a home-and-home series at the Centennial Arena.
