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Bombers' special teams earn high SJHL rank

The Flin Flon Bombers are striving to have their special teams be… well, special. “Special teams is a very big part of the game nowadays,” Bombers captain Nate Hooper said. “Games can be won off of special teams.
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The Flin Flon Bombers are striving to have their special teams be… well, special.

“Special teams is a very big part of the game nowadays,” Bombers captain Nate Hooper said. “Games can be won off of special teams. Championship teams always have the most dangerous power play.”

As of Sunday, the Bombers were ranked in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s top four in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. This can certainly pay dividends.

“I think our special teams have come a long way and we continue to improve,” Flin Flon head coach Mike Reagan said.

Following Saturday’s games, the Bombers’ power play was third in the SJHL with a 23.8 percentage. Flin Flon had the league’s best road power play as it was converting at a 27.6 rate.

“When you have a good power play, it forces other teams to not play as aggressive,” Reagan said. “If they do, you’ve got to make them pay.”

On Friday night, in a 3-1 road loss to the Battlefords Stars, the Bombers were 0-for-5 on the power play. They had a five-on-three power play late in the game that could have tied up the contest, but were unable to convert. The next night the Bombers performed well with the man advantage. They were 3-for-6 in a 5-4 victory over the North Stars.

As of Sunday, Flin Flon’s Brandson Hein was third in the league with eight power play goals and tied for second with 16 power-play points. Chrystopher Collin was second on the team with five power play goals while Caleb Moretz had four. Seven Bombers had at least two power play markers.

Hooper was second in the SJHL with 12 power-play assists. Second on the Bombers in assists with the man advantage were Hein, Daylan Marchi, and defenceman Calvon Boots all tied with eight. When asked about what he enjoys about being on the Bombers power play, Hooper said, “Just going out there and making plays and capitalizing is the best part.”

The Bombers had the SJHL’s fourth best penalty kill as of Sunday. They were operating at 85.3 per cent.

“Obviously, a big PK is huge,” Flin Flon defenceman Mason Martin said. “You’re down a guy and it gives the other team a bit of momentum, but when you kill that penalty off, the momentum swings our way. Blocking shots is a huge part of the penalty kill and that also creates a lot of energy on our bench as well.”

Moretz said he enjoys blocking shots on the penalty kill. He also likes taking advantage of the opposing team’s offensive mindset.

The Bombers have been very effective this season scoring when they are a man down. Flin Flon led the league with nine shorthanded goals. Hein had an SJHL-best four shorthanded goals. Marchi and Moretz each had two shorthanded goals.

“Everyone on the opposing team’s power play is only thinking about offence and how they’re going to score,” Moretz said. “None of them are thinking about defence, so when I get the puck and skate it instead of sending it down the ice, most of them aren’t prepared for it which makes it easier to score.”

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