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.
The yappy Melfort Mustangs blew their chance to finish off the Flin Flon Bombers in the Whitney Forum and were kicked off their high horse in their own barn. They might want to chug Pepto Bismol to ease the pain because that's like a girl kickin' you in the crotch-the pain lasts a while. Now the Bombers face the Battlefords' North Stars and their old captain, Clayton Geiger. For Evan Smith, James Pasternak and Dennis Kubat, there is extra incentive to play the North Stars because they used to play for the Itech Conference leaders. Kubat is the most dangerous offensive weapon the Bombers have right now until Tyler Beachell and Dalton Pajak really explode. The two top liners are starting to do what's expected of them, but they're capable of more. Fortunately the second top line, which can be called the KON line (Kubat, Braden Olszewski, and Brett Needham), have provided nine of the 20 goals scored, which accounts for 45 per cent of the offense. Facing the North Stars is what Kubat wanted all along as he wants revenge on his former team (though he's very happy as a Bomber) and the way he's playing right now, there's no reason it shouldn't continue. Other good news for the Bombers is that Zane Kalemba is back to playing stronger and despite not facing a ton of shots in the last two games against the Mustangs, he made critical saves. If the Bombers continue to play the same defensively against the North Stars, who as of Feb. 26 are the sixth best team in the country, he will face more rubber-just not like Roberto Loungo does in Florida. Fan support On the road, the support has been unbelievable with an average of 300 fans in the last two games traveling to support the maroon and white. At home, it may be exactly what the organization expected, with 846 at the first game, 1,072 for the second and 1,152 for the third. With the Bombers now in the second round and the numbers increasing, that trend should continue. If not-well we won't go there. Those three totals average out to 1,023. Now that the Bombers have advanced for the first time since 1993, fans may realize this team can do some damage and crowds could hit as high as at least 1,500. The true playoff atmosphere could be hitting full tilt. During game six against the Mustangs, a group of fans had come with paper dolls representing some of the players. More people should get into the playoff mood and create a sea of maroon and white much like Jets fans and their flooding the arena in white. When you haven't been able to enjoy a playoff run in five years, you get the idea right?
