With a win and an overtime loss on the weekend, the Flin Flon Bombers have moved into first place in the Sherwood Division, improving their record to 4-1-1-1.
On Friday, the Bombers erased a 3-1 third period deficit, but Andrew Cummings scored his second goal of the game at 3:40 of the extra frame to give the league-leading Notre Dame Hounds a 4-3 win.
Tyson Empey and Evan Akkerman each scored their first goal of the season for the Bombers, and Chris Rauckman netted his eighth with just two minutes to play in the third to tie the game. The Bombers pressed hard for the go-ahead goal, but with no success.
The Hounds outshot the Bombers 42-32, including 4-0 in overtime. Notre Dame remains undefeated after the weekends’ action with a 6-0 record.
On Saturday the Bombers took it to the La Ronge Ice Wolves, beating them 8-1.
Alex Smith earned a Gordie Howe hat trick. Along with his goal and fight, Smith picked up three assists.
Austin Calladine had two goals and an assist and Danys Chartrand managed three
helpers.
Chipping in with singles were Seamus Maguire, Chris Rauckman, Michael Knaub, Parker Evans-Campbell and captain Dean Allison.
The Bombers outshot the Ice Wolves 48-29, and goaltender Simon Hofley allowed only a late third-period goal to Connor Kortco. La Ronge’s Luke Grassl allowed three goals on 19 shots and Austin Rediron let in five goals on 29 shots.
Rauckman’s goal was his league-leading ninth of the season, one better than Adam Fauchoux of the Melfort Mustangs. Rauckman also leads the league with 13 points in seven games.
After Rauckman, the Bombers have four other players among the top 10 scoring leaders.
Evans-Campbell is fourth with 10 points, Calladine is fifth with nine points, Chartrand is ninth with seven points and Smith is tied for tenth with six points.
Next action for the Bombers will be Saturday when they host the Battlefords’ North Stars for the first time this season.
