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 Flin Flon Bombers have more than just first place on the line over the final eight games of the SJHL regular season. The Bombers have an opportunity to tighten up their defensive game and get an SJHL record for 1989 G Matt Weninger (Lethbridge AB). Weninger entered the weekend with nine career shutouts. It was believed Weninger had only eight, but has now been credited with a third this season when a 1-0 shootout game against the Battlefords North Stars became overlooked. The SJHL record is 10 career shutouts, set by Taylor Nelson of the Humboldt Broncos in 2007-08. Weninger went 205:28 without allowing a goal as a rookie with the Kindersley Klippers in 2007-08 and he also recorded four shutouts in a row last year Ð two to end the regular season and two to begin the playoffs. It ended up being a streak of 251:49 without allowing a goal, but because it was spread out over the regular season and playoffs, he wasn't able to establish a new standard. Weninger has had three games in the last month in which he's allowed just one goal. He's determined to give it all he's got down the stretch. "I've been close a couple of times already and a couple of snuck by me. I'm due for one," he jokes. Nelson, generally regarded as being the best goaltender the SJHL has seen in the last 10 years, holds a number of netminding records. Weninger has a chance to join him with one more shutout and could surpass him if he goes on another run of scoreless minutes. Weninger, who has two such streaks, says the career mark would mean more. "The career shutouts mean I didn't fluke out and do it over a few games where I just got hot. This is something that speaks for your whole career." Weninger has NCAA scholarship aspirations and a fly-down is slated to happen in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Weyburn netminder AJ Whiffen also has nine career shutouts heading into the final couple of weeks of the regular season. He recorded his ninth career bagel on December 19 against Melfort. Whiffen has had eight other games this season in which he has allowed just one goal. As a rookie in 2007-08, Whiffen recorded six shutouts. Both Weninger and Whiffen are tied for the SJHL lead in lowest GAA at 2.24. The netminder with the best goals against average is awarded the SJHL Goaltender Of The Year. Whiffen, who has been rotating with Tanner Erickson this season, figures to get the next three starts as Erickson has been suspended for his role in a goaltender fight January 29.
