Count yet another big division win for the Flin Flon Bombers. The team took care of business Friday night, handing Nipawin a 7-5 loss.
The Bombers got off to an early start, with both Hayden Clayton and Mason Martin scoring in the first five minutes. Nipawin roared back later in the period though, thanks to three goals in six minutes by Andrew Schaab, Jordan SImoneau and Jake Tremblay.
In the second, Caden Benson was given a gift by debutant Bomber goalie Cal Schell, who misplayed the puck from behind the Flin Flon net and gave Benson an open cage in the slot. The game didn't stay 4-2 Nipawin for long though – a powerplay goal from Troy Quinn at the point cut the Bombers' deficit to one.
About a minute later, Billy Klymchuk stepped up, taking the puck shortly after a faceoff, muscling into the slot and beating Nipawin goalie Ross Hawryluk five-hole to tie the game. Alec Malo scored a similar goal through Hawryluk's legs moments later, causing the promising young Nipawin goalie to be sent to the bench in favour of backup Dalton Dosch.
Dosch was woke up early, with Tristan Lemyre careening into him at high speed after making contact with a Hawks defender. A scrum ensued and fists flew, but everyone involved stayed in the game.
With six minutes left in the second, Klymchuk found the twine again. Dosch made a goof of his own with the puck, with a pass bouncing off a Hawk's shinpads and going into the slot, where Klymchuk just had to tap it in. The game was 6-4 Bombers after 40.
Riley Bruce scored his first as a Hawk early in the third period on a wraparound, but Martin got his second of the night with a powerplay wrister that had eyes. The Bombers withstood some late challenges and a little rough stuff to snag a 7-5 win.
Schell made 24 saves in his first Bomber game, earning his first win. Dosch and Hawryluk both headed home with Ls, saving 42 shots between them.
The Bombers stand pat in second place league-wide with 59 points, while third place Yorkton stayed idle and fourth-place Melfort was routed 6-2 by Battlefords. The Bombers remain on top of the Sherwood division, now eight points clear of second-place Melfort and La Ronge and 10 points up on the Hawks.
Flin Flon will try to double their pleasure on the road Saturday night, heading to the Cage in Nipawin for a rematch with the Hawks.
