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 embark on a three-game road trip starting today and ending Sunday that they could sweep. Why, you might ask? For one, they believe they can earn four out of six points. Captain Blake McCullough says his team should be able to get all of them as they play the Battlefords' North Stars and the Kindersley Klippers. Motivation is the key against the North Stars, a team that has their former captain, Clayton Geiger. Evan Smith is excited as he wants to show the Stars they made a mistake in trading him. Smith feels he has something to prove. He has the chance where even one play can make the difference with the result of the game. Players in these situations tend to take their game to another level. McCullough mentioned during an interview on Tuesday he is very excited about playing against his friend. Both can be huge motivating factors for this team. It also helps that they believe they can defeat the Stars. Afterall, it was in the first game which the Bombers lost 3-1. They had a 1-0 lead in the last period of that game. The tides were turned when the Stars were awarded a penalty shot, which Michael George scored on and changed the look of the game like a quake changes the earth. A victory against the Stars would set the stage for back-to-back games against the Kindersley Klippers. The Bombers have defeated this team three times this season. Winning both games would bury the Kindersley Klippers in the cold snow. (I would say the dust, but you know...) The Klippers have played four more games than the Bombers and are tied in points as of Nov. 16. Because they have one less win, the Bombers have that coveted playoff spot. The Bombers could also put themselves closer to the Melfort Mustangs, a team 14 points ahead of them. The last reason is Braden Olszewski, who they acquired from the Lloydminster Bobcats for Jesse Gulbraa on Tuesday. Olszewski is excited to help his new team, and they are more than happy to have him. While fans will look at his numbers, 34 points in 114 games, and may or may not be impressed, this organization he can help. Former Bombers coach/GM Ryan Hoffman said for a lot of players it comes down to timing and being in the right situation. This was after he was told about the glowing numbers goalie Michael Pilote was putting up and continues to for the La Ronge Ice Wolves, the team the Bombers shipped him to. Ifs are ifs, but if Olszewski can give life to a man-advantage that is mediocre, the Bombers can turn their fortunes around. The team has lost eight games by a single goal, keep in mind in some of these losses the opposition scored in an empty net. Had the power-play been successful and scored at least once or twice, the Bombers would likely have three more wins and some ties for the extra point. The Olszewski-factor could prove important. Especially if the results go in the Bombers direction.
