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.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Here is the second half of an article, which began Friday, on the Flin Flon Bombers' season to date. * * * Where are all the fans? The Whitney Forum is capable of holding 1,650 people, but attendance has been nowhere near that at Bomber games this season. On average, the Bombers have played before 746.5 spectators. The home opener was the biggest crowd as 1,272 were recorded as being at the rink. But the team has seen low points throughout 12 home games so far this season, as two nights brought out fewer than 600 fans. 'I'm surprised at the attendance,' said head coach and GM Mike Reagan. 'I (keep thinking), we're 12-0 at home and we're not getting 1,000 people to a game.' Earlier this month the Bombers hosted the Melville Millionaires, who have been leading the Sherwood Conference. '...the top two teams were playing each other and we had (855) people,' Reagan said. 'I guess, to me, it bugs me that everyone wants a winner here and they have a team that is winning and we still can't get 1,000 people out to a game. I just don't get it. I really don't.' The Bombers have enjoyed a perfect season at home to date, and Reagan hopes to see the support in the stands. 'I know there is a lot going on in town, but...what more could you ask for in a team? Everyone has that wait-and-see attitude,' he said. 'Well, we're a third of the way through the season and we're undefeated at home. What more do you want? 'I don't know how much more we can prove to fans that we're a pretty good team.' Achieving Goals The Bombers started the year with a goal of ending the regular season ranked among the top three in the SJHL. Heading into the weekend the Bombers were atop the league standings with 34 points in 21 games, including just four losses. Though the Bombers were leading the league by five points, Reagan says there is still plenty of hockey to be played. In recent seasons, Flin Flon has not typically fared well following the Christmas break. The Bombers often find themselves with a tough road trip on their schedule right out of the gate. 'I think the difference this year compared to the last couple of years, is that after Christmas we have a little more time to practice,' Reagan said. 'Our schedule hasn't been great in the past.' This year the Bombers will face the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Jan. 4, on the road, and then have five days off. 'In the past we've gotten into a lot of games and played a lot of hockey in January. We've run into injuries,' Reagan said. 'I don't want to say our (schedule) is easier (this season), but it's a little more generous to allow us to practice. 'Sometimes, we don't value practice enough.' Reagan says oftentimes it is thought that playing is the best practice. 'But if you create bad habits (in a game), then you are going to see them in games,' he said. 'Practice gives us the chance to get rid of any bad habits and restart a roll, hopefully.' They'll Be Hungry This past weekend the Bombers travelled to Melville and Yorkton to face two teams they have already defeated on home ice. With a 6-2 win against Melville and a 4-0 victory over the Terriers prior to the weekend, the Bombers collectively outscored those two opponents by eight goals. 'The way I look at it, they're going to be hungry to get back at us in their barn,' Reagan said. Heading into the weekend, the Millionaires topped the Sherwood Conference and were tied for second place in the SJHL with 29 points _ alongside the Bauer Conference's Humboldt Broncos. The Terriers claimed second place in the Sherwood Conference with 27 points. Hard To Come By Road wins have been hard to come by this season in the SJHL. Heading into the weekend the Bombers, Millionaires, Broncos and Hounds were the only teams above .500 on the road. The Bombers held a 5-4-0-0 record compared to 7-3-0-1 for Melville, 5-4-1-0 for the Broncos and 4-3-0-1 for the Hounds. See 'Coach...' pg.5 Continued from pg. 4 The Melfort Mustangs and Yorkton Terriers were an even .500 away from home. 'Everyone is hovering around .500 or below,' said Reagan before his team hit the road. 'So to have a .500 record is key.' That said, the Bombers did drop a three-game road series early in the season. 'I think we can be better on the road, but I also look and (think) our only real slip-up this year was that Southern swing,' Reagan said. 'If you eliminate that swing...we've been real good this year. But our goal is to become a better road team.' Flin Flon's success in the SJHL this season has continuously placed the Bombers in the top 10 rankings of the CJHL. 'It's not easy to get in there,' said Reagan, adding that although those rankings are more for fans, they are still encouraging. 'There's something like 140 Junior A teams and to be in the top 20 alone is a big accomplishment.' Four of the six seasons Reagan has been on the Bomber bench, the Maroon and White have found themselves at some point in the top rankings. 'We're proud of it. I know I am as a coach,' he said. Rankings for the CJHL are based on statistics like winning percentages. But Reagan says they aren't 100 per cent reliable as each league is different. 'It's more for the fans, but at the same time I think we take a lot of pride in it. It helps our guys to be like, 'Hey, we want to be number one,'' he said. That might be tough. As of press time last week, the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL were in first place in the CJHL rankings with a 20-0-0 start to the season. Flin Flon started the season with a perfect record through the first eight games. A three-game winless skid on the road dropped the Bombers in the CJHL rankings. 'I think the guys took that personal and wanted to get back up there,' said Reagan. The Bombers dropped from third place in the CJHL standings and as of last week had moved back to the same spot. 'For us to move back up into that position, I think that says a lot about the team,' said Reagan. 'If you can be there as long as we have, obviously it means you've got a pretty good team.' Reagan says he's not calling his team the best by any means, 'but we are one of the better teams, for sure.' The Bombers will welcome the Ice Wolves tomorrow night following the Maroon and White's road trip this past weekend, which was played after The Reminder went to press. This Friday, Flin Flon will welcome the Nipawin Hawks before a two-game road series against the Battlefords North Stars and Humboldt Broncos.
