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.
D-day, as in decision day, for the Flin Flon Bombers coaching staff took place Thursday. Early injuries are preventing the team from trimming the roster down to 25, but the hammer came down on Fredrick Lamontange, Scott Tyschinski of Snow Lake, and veteran Brett Medve. Rookies hanging around for now are Steven Robinson, Justin Klassen, Sean McNaulty, Chris Pache, Calvin Bartel, Reid McLeod, Chris Blaquiere, Devin Marshall, Brett Harvey, Jesse Goertzen, Pierre Luc-Bouchard, and Tommy Castonguay. "Right now we're still carrying 30 and again some of them due to injuries," Bombers coach-GM, Doug Stokes, explained. "We haven't had a chance to see anything and it's only fair to the kid and to the organization that we see the kid play and know what he brings to the table before we make those decisions. More cuts were made at the end of last weekend. The Bombers coach believes they have talent and speed. Fans will have to have patience as Stokes said it's going to be a matter of time before players get some continuity and cohesion as a group. "As much as we've got the core players returning, that's like 11 rookies and it takes time for that bond to be built," he said. Going into Friday's game against the Mustangs in Melfort, Stokes said he wanted to see more consistency in the intensity and passion department. The team had a long talk with their returning players and the coaches expressed their expectations. "I thought last year at the end of the year that we played with a lot of fire and a lot of passion," Stokes said. "We haven't seen that to date so far in exhibition. I think there may be a number of reasons for that, but the bottom line is our core guys that are here from last year have to get that same fire and passion back in the game." Ten players didn't dress for Friday's game. Included in that group were veterans Jared Kissick, Andrew Leslie, and James Pasternak. Rookies who dressed were Justin Klassen, Steven Robinson, Reid McLeod, Sean McNaulty, Chris Pache, Calvin Bartel, Chris Blaquiere, and Devin Marshall. Trade updates: The team added two more rookies to the list when they shipped listed player Michael Seib to the Weyburn Red Wings for defenceman Michael Bondy and goaltender Eric Potvin. The two arrived Thursday night and were expected to be on the ice either Saturday or today. Stokes is still trying to deal local product Matt Hill, whom he picked up from the South Surrey Eagles of the BCHL. "Not very good at this point," Stokes said on trying to make a trade. "He's interested in going to Melfort and Melfort is interested in having him. I've tried to accommodate his wishes. At this point we don't feel we've been offered fair compensation for him. I guess what the deal is Darrell Mann (director of hockey operations and head coach) is looking to deal Andrew Wasmuth to B.C. somewhere and they feel what he's been offered back for Wasmuth, that he wants to return to us for Hill. As I said to Mr. Hill, we feel that we've offered him an opportunity to play here. He's chosen not to play here for whatever reasons and as much as I'd like to accommodate the boy and get him to where he wants to play, I have an obligation to this organization and to 25 players in that room to make sure that we get fairly compensated." Check Wednesday's paper for the weekend action and further player updates.
