The Flin Flon Bombers are currently undefeated through the preseason, adding to the win column with a 5-1 victory over the Swan Valley Stampeders.
In their third preseason game and the only inter-league game between the Bombers and an MJHL opponent, the Bombers came to play, with both returning players and training camp hopefuls making an impression on home ice.
Starting a first line of Caleb Moretz, Daylan Marchi and newcomer Alec Cokley, the Bombers opened the scoring in the first period after Marchi finished off a pass from Moretz.
In the second period, Nate Hooper added another Bomber goal. Not long after, the Stampeders scored their only goal of the game, with Cole Chicoine capitalizing on a misplayed puck from Bomber goalie hopeful Hunter Young. Aside from the error, Young held down the fort, along with goalies Jeremy Dutcawich and Pierce Diamond. All three netminders split time in the Flin Flon crease, with each playing one period apiece.
After a fight between Bomber Isaac Jackson and Swan Valley's Morgan Venne, the Bombers kept the scoring up. Jessie Young made it 3-1 after a terrific behind-the-back pass by Vincent Nardone. Donavan Houle-Villeneuve added two late goals on goalmouth scrambles.
Earlier in the preseason, the Bombers claimed wins over both Nipawin and La Ronge. In a game featuring mostly rookies, the Bombers started the preseason with an 11-1 win over Nipawin on Sept. 2. Josh Nagy led the way with a hat-trick, while Jayden Wiens and Creighton-born Owen Slugoski added two goals each. Two nights later in La Ronge, the Bombers earned a 7-2 win, with Dawson McKenzie and Nardone scoring twice and goals coming from Aiden Craig-Steele, Young and Matt Flodell.
The Bombers will end the preseason with a fourth and final game at the Whitney Forum on Sept. 7 against Nipawin. After that, the team will cut down their roster in time for a season-opening home-and-home series against La Ronge. The two teams will face off in La Ronge on Sept. 14, with the Bombers' home-opener on Sept. 15.
