The Flin Flon Bombers took over right where they left off after 2015 with a hard fought 6-5 shoot out win over Yorkton to open up 2016 last night at the Whitney Forum.
The line of Kocur, Switzer and Smith combined for 12 points and continue to carry the club offensively and all 3 sit in the top ten in league scoring.
Switzer had a goal and 4 assists, Kocur had a pair of goals and a pair of assists and Smith had a goal and 2 assists. Tyson Empey had the other goal for Flin Flon.
Kocur had the winning goal in the shootout and now has 24 on the season to take over the team lead.
Evans, Sookro,Sherban,Stevely and Welke scored for Yorkton.
The story for the Terriers was their goaltender Jacob Severson who stopped 60 out of 65 Bomber shots,22 in the second period alone. The majority of the shots were in tight including a short handed break away from Alex Smith.
I chatted with Trent Cassan, the Yorkton head coach after the game and he said Severson has been really good lately and was impressed with his effort last night, noting it could of easily been 7-1 for the Bombers after the second period.
Flin Flon will improve to 19-13-0-4 and are now 5 points up on Laronge for third in the Sherwood after Nipawin buried the Ice Wolves 8-1 last night. The Bombers remain 6 points behind the Hawks for second in the Sherwood with 2 games in hand.
The Bombers are 8-2 in their last 10 and have won 13 of their last 16 games as they prepare for the defending league champs, the Melfort Mustangs in a home and home this weekend. The Mustangs will be here on Friday, with the Bombers off to Melfort Saturday.
102.9 CFAR will have the broadcast of Saturday's game, our first of 2016.
Flin Flon has played the Mustangs well, taking points in all 3 games and were less than 30 seconds from shutting them out in their last meeting in Melfort November the 5th. This should be a good measuring stick for the Bombers who could be looking to add January the 10th.
Head Coach and GM Mike Reagan says they would like to add a couple of players for the stretch drive, if the asking price is right. With it being pretty tight across the league, most GM'S I have talked to expect it to be pretty quiet, which means most teams will likely have to make a deal outside the league. It will be interesting and no doubt Bomber fans will be watching the SJHL website very closely.
Congratulations to both the Bomber's Brandon Switzer and Zac Robidoux who both got rewarded for their fine play as being chosen player's of the month for December.
Switzer was the player of the Month for his 15 points in 8 games in December, and Robidoux was chosen goalie of the month for going 5-1 with a 1.68 -gaa and .948 SPCT to go along with a pair of shutouts.
Don't forget to join us for play by play coverage of the second half of the home and home with Melfort this Saturday including the Murray GM Coach's Show at 7:15 and play by play at 7:30 from the Northern Lights Palace.
