Adam Wilson said his one year with the Flin Flon Bombers was his favourite junior hockey season.
“I have many great experiences and memories playing with the Bombers… I had the best billet family by far. No one compares to how great they treated me and still treat me as we still are in contact,” said Wilson, who billeted with Rob and Christine Simon and their children Joie and Logan.
The 22-year-old, now living in his hometown of Edmonton, said that the coaches and players on that 2015-2016 squad made it special.
“The group, as a whole, was a very tight team on and off the ice, which I feel led to our deep run as we believed in ourselves and our teammates,” Wilson said. “Even just little memories of playing poker with teammates or going ice fishing on your off days are some things I still think of to this day. Also, the coaching was my favourite there as well. They looked out for you on and off the ice and weren’t scared to give you a kick in the (pants) or a pat on the back.”
The Bombers during Wilson’s season came together and posted the league’s best record from Dec. 1 onward. They made it all the way to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League finals, where Melfort won the series 4-2 to claim its second consecutive title.
The squad beat Weyburn, 4-1, in its first series. The series is remembered for the Red Wings trying to swipe the celebratory moose leg after a Bombers win.
“Playoffs that year were incredible,” Wilson said. “Even though we finished sixth and had to start with third-place Weyburn, who we never beat all regular season. We knew and believed we were going to win that series. And aside from losing the series to us, I think they also learned a valuable lesson to never steal the moose leg.”
The Bombers advanced to down the Battlefords North Stars in the semifinals four games to one.
“Playing in the Whitney (Forum) during playoff time was incredible. It was always a packed house with loud, proud fans that helped us through those series. Beating Battleford was my favourite series easily since our last game went into double overtime I do believe,” said Wilson, recalling a contest that ended 6-5 with Rylee Zimmer scoring the game winner.
Before coming to Flin Flon, Wilson suited up in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. With the Bombers, he collected 19 points and 70 penalty minutes in 44 regular season games.
Wilson skated regularly on a line with Greyson Reitmeier and Kristian St. Onge. They often started games for Flin Flon to set the tone with their crash and bang style. Wilson split his final junior season between the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats and Grande Prairie Storm.
Wilson is now studying power engineering at Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He also works for EPCOR Utilities. On the ice, Wilson plays senior AA hockey for the Morinville Kings.
“It’s still really good hockey – all ex-junior and college players,” he said.
