The Flin Flon Bombers are one win away from the SJHL semi-finals after their third straight victory against the Weyburn Red Wings on Wednesday night.
The Bombers downed the Wings 3-2 before a lively announced crowd of 1,089 fans at the Whitney Forum. The win followed Flin Flon’s home victory by the same score on Tuesday. They are now up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
“We’ve got them down to [where] they can’t make a mistake now,” Bombers head coach Mike Reagan told 102.9 CFAR’s Rob Hart after Wednesday’s game. “And we’ve got three cracks at it, but we want Game 5, there’s no question about it.”
Wednesday’s victory was nearly overshadowed by a melee that broke out after a Weyburn player attempted to leave the ice with a celebratory moose leg a fan had tossed following the final buzzer.
Reagan, aware of how high emotions were running, worked to get his players off the ice. As he later told Hart, he was concerned about suspensions, adding: “They’re emotional. They’re sticking up for each other and that’s what you want to see out of your team.”
Many fans were just as outraged by what they saw as Weyburn’s attempt to desecrate a Flin Flon hockey custom.
“You don’t go and take the moose leg. That’s our tradition. You don’t go do that. Like, give me a break,” Reagan told Hart.
Of course the Bombers’ best revenge could come in the form of a series-ending victory Saturday in Weyburn. Given that all of their wins have been by a single marker, goaltending will again be key for Flin Flon.
Since relieving Zac Robidoux partway through a 4-1 loss in Game 1 in Weyburn, rookie Bombers netminder Brenden Newton has been a veritable brick wall. He has stopped 128 of 133 shots, good for an other-wordly .962 save-percentage.
Up front, Brandon Switzer has shown why he is one of the top forwards in the league with four points (2G, 2A) in as many games to lead the club offensively.
Flin Flon has been scoring by committee in the quarterfinal series, with five different players notching goals and 13 players earning at least a point.
Elsewhere in the SJHL, the Nipawin Hawks are up 3-1 in their series against Estevan. The teams hit the ice for Game 5 tonight, Friday, in Nipawin.
The La Ronge Ice Wolves had a chance to sweep their series against the Melfort Mustangs on Thursday, after The Reminder went to press.
The same was true of the Battlefords North Stars in their series against the Kindersley Klippers. Game 4 of that series was also slated for Thursday.
The Reminder will continue to follow the Bombers online and in print. Like “Flin Flon Reminder” on Facebook to receive breaking news updates.
