When BC product Caleb Franklin learned he had been traded to the Flin Flon Bombers earlier this season, he was not sure what to think.
“Once I saw the history in the organization and statistics online, I became very excited to come out here,” Franklin said.
The 19-year-old forward has fit in well with the Bombers. They were 6-1 in Franklin’s first seven Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League games with the squad.
“Franky has brought grit, physicality and a great work ethic to the team,” Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan said. “I’m a big fan of him.”
In 11 games, Franklin has three goals and eight points with the Bombers.
Before the trade, he had three assists in nine games with the Cowichan Valley Capitals of Duncan, BC.
“I think I have been able to contribute offensively by just working hard and going to the dirty areas and also playing with good linemates,” Franklin said.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has brought a two-way game to the team as well.
“I enjoy the defensive side of the game because it is the most important part of the game,” Franklin said. “To win we have to play good defence.”
Franklin grew up on the lower BC mainland, in White Rock. When he was about 15 years old, his family moved to Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. As a 16-year-old, he played junior B hockey with the Kerry Park Islanders.
The next season Franklin was an assistant captain for that squad and led them in goals, assists, and points. He helped the Islanders make it to the second round of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2012.
As a 17-year-old, Franklin suited up for five games with the junior A Capitals. The squad, at that time, was coached by Bob Beatty. The former SJHL bench boss won league titles with Humboldt and La Ronge and, with the latter, waged Hanson Lake Road rivalry battles against the Bombers. Beatty regularly invited Franklin to attend practices with the squad.
Franklin had 15 points in 54 games with the Caps last season. He is certainly on pace to surpass that with the Bombers – and is having fun on and off the ice with the team.
“The things I have enjoyed most about being a Bomber is being around a great group of guys and coaching staff everyday. Not to mention our amazing fans,” Franklin said.
