Isaac Jackson vividly recalls attending Flin Flon Bombers’ games at the Whitney Forum when he was growing up.
“I remember as a young kid going to games usually right after my dad got off work, grabbing some popcorn and sitting in the same place – just to the left of the home bench,” said Jackson, who also played minor hockey in the same place. “I always remember the rink being loud as well.”
Now the Bombers defenceman is in his third season of being cheered on by the Flin Flon fans at the Whitney Forum.
“The thing I enjoy the most about the Whitney is the atmosphere during games is better than anywhere else in the league,” said Jackson, who moved to Warman at the age of 14.
“I’ve watched a fair share of Western Hockey League games in Saskatoon and the atmosphere is nowhere near as good as it is in the Whitney even though there is two to four thousand more people.”
The Bombers, 5-3 on the season, are looking for continued support from the fans during the current homestand. The Flin Flon squad swept Melville at home this past weekend and hosts Kindersley (4-2) for games on Friday and Saturday.
The latter series kicks off an October that sandwiches a road trip between two home stands. After playing Kindersley, the Bombers head out on one of the SJHL’s infamous four games in five nights road trips. The team concludes the month with four home games.
The Bombers are 3-1 at the Whitney Forum this season. Their home record in the league stats is also bolstered by a victory last week at the SJHL Showcase in Warman.
The Bombers have averaged 821 fans a night during the 2018-2019 campaign, according to the SJHL website. At the home opener, 1,436 people packed the Whitney Forum. This past weekend the reported attendance was 707 on Friday and 704 Saturday.
Whitney Forum fans enthusiastically supporting their team certainly gives the Bombers an advantage.
“When the crowd is loud at the Whitney Forum, it creates an atmosphere that’s difficult to play in for opposing teams and it creates extra energy and momentum for us, which gives us a better chance to win on any given night,” said second-year defenceman Vaughan Bamford.
In addition to the loud fans, the Whitney Forum, which opened in 1958, has a unique feel thanks to its history on display. There are numerous banners, a team Wall of Fame, and generations of Bombers beaming in team photos lining the walls.
