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Bombers: Haygarth and Haygarth making an impression

Chase and Easton Haygarth are quickly making an impression on the Flin Flon Bombers and the team’s fans. The 19-year-old twin brothers from Lloydminster, Alta. have fielded countless questions over the years about looking alike.
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Flin Flon Bomber Donavan Houle-Villeneuve gets up close and personal with Melville Millionaire Max McPeak during the two teams’ Whitney Forum series last weekend. The Bombers came away with a pair of lopsided wins, 6-2 Oct. 18 and 5-1 Oct. 19. - PHOTO BY KELLY JACOBSON

Chase and Easton Haygarth are quickly making an impression on the Flin Flon Bombers and the team’s fans.

The 19-year-old twin brothers from Lloydminster, Alta. have fielded countless questions over the years about looking alike. On the ice, their similar playing styles have made them effective.

“We are both hard workers who play two-way games,” Chase said.

“I would say I’m more of a playmaker and he’s more of a shooter, which makes it easy to play with each other.”

Easton is fourth on the team with 15 points in 14 games, including four goals, while Chase is sixth with 11 points and two goals in 14 games. Easton scored two goals and recorded four points in a 5-1 win over Melville at home Oct. 19. Chase had three assists. The night before, Cole Rafuse scored a hat trick as Flin Flon (9-3-2-0) won 6-2.

What pleased Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan the most about the victories?

“Giving up only three goals in two games. Obviously we put a lot of pucks to the net (87 shots in two games) and we got balanced scoring.”

The Haygarth brothers have often played on a line together this season. On the weekend, they were split up as the coaching staff sought to get scoring throughout the lineup and to find lines that clicked a bit better, Reagan explained.

When Matt Raymond was ejected for fighting Braden Larochelle early in the first period on Oct. 19, Easton was double-shifted. He ended up playing on two lines, including one with Chase.

“It was good to see that he was able to take that extra ice time and take advantage of it,” Reagan said.

The Haygarths have helped provide secondary scoring behind the top line of Alec Malo (28 points), Donavan Houle-Villeneuve (24 points), and Rafuse (22 points) – who rank first, fourth and fifth in the SJHL in scoring.

It is not just the Haygarths’ point production that has endeared them to the Bombers and their fans.

“They go to the tough areas and like to play in the tough areas,” Reagan said.

“They aren’t afraid to mix it up and be a thorn in other teams’ sides. We are very happy with the brothers and have high expectations for them.”

The Haygarths were acquired from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Whitecourt Wolverines this summer in a three-way blockbuster trade for Vincent Nardone.

In the first of their two seasons in Whitecourt, the brothers shared the team’s humanitarian award. The year before they earned the honour, ex-Bomber Pierce Diamond shared the award and former Bomber Brandon Switzer won in 2014. Last season, Chase was named the team’s most dedicated player, while Easton was named the unsung hero.

The brothers billet with Leanna Campbell and her children Hannah and Caleb in Flin Flon. They are enjoying the experience as they play for the Bombers.

“The fan support has been awesome and all my teammates have been a lot of fun to play with,” Chase said. “I love how loud the Whitney Forum is.”

The Haygarths are pleased to be teammates. There have only been a couple seasons where the duo played for different teams.

“Living so far away from home, it’s nice that our parents get to come to one place to watch us play,” Easton said. “We have pretty good chemistry out on the ice, so that makes things out on the ice a bit easier - and it’s just nice to have someone always around to talk to or play Xbox with.”

At one point, the brothers tried switching places at school.

“We haven’t really tried doing that much. Most people back home can tell the difference between us pretty easily,” Chase said.

Easton said that most people cannot tell them apart at first, but once they get to know the brothers, they are able to. They look similar and play similar styles. How about personality?

“We are pretty similar,” Easton said. “We both like the same things, like foods and sports, but our personalities are a bit different. We are both pretty outgoing guys. At first, I may be a bit more shy than he is.”

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