The long wait is over and it's time to get down to business as the SJHL regular season will begin tonight with 5 games including the Flin Flon Bombers off to the Cage to face the Nipawin Hawks.
Both teams are coming off good seasons with the Bombers finishing the year at 37-15-2-2 which was the best record in the Sherwood Division. Flin Flon would carry the success into the post season making it to the league final for the fourth time in 6 years.
Nipawin also made the playoffs under new bench boss Tad Kozun finishing the year at 26-24-5-1 and lost out to the Humboldt Broncos in the first round of the playoffs.
Kozun mentioned after the season that they are happy to get some playoff experience and feel poised to be one of the top 6 clubs in the league this year.
They certainly have a very good forward group returning with Braxton Buchberger, Joel Mabin, Maguire Ratzlaff and Finley Radloff all back in a Hawks uniform. Scoring goals should not be a problem
They did lose starting goalie Jackson Fellner who won 18 games last year and decided to go to school. They feel confident with Damon Cunningham who started all 5 playoff games and will be the starter coming into tonight.
Flin Flon has a good forward group also led by returnee's Jacob Vockler,Alexi Sylvestre and Kylynn Olafson. The addition of home town product Justin Lies from the WHL will be fun to watch as well.
The Bombers will bring back both goalies including former Hawk, Harmon Laser Hume who was one of the top netminders in the league last year. Harmon was amongst the league leaders in wins with 28, save %at .913 and GAA at 2.57.
To say the Bombers haven't had their way with Nipawin the last few seasons would be a huge under statement. After losing the season opener in Nipawin last year, Flin Flon reeled off 5 straight wins.
The Bombers are 8-2 against the Hawks in their last 10 meetings and are 16-4 in the head to head matchups in the last 5 years.
Don't forget to listen in for all the action tonight as we hit the air with our first installment of Creighton Furniture Flin Flon Bomber Hockey from the Cage with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:40 and puck drop at 8.
Flin Flon will return for the home opener on Saturday when the Melfort Mustangs make their way to town. We are on the air at 7:10, with drop of the puck at 7:30.
Northland Ford will be hosting a tailgate party before the game so make your way down to the Whitney Forum parking lot for face painting, a beer garden, prizes, free hot dogs and drinks and there will also be a skate with the team after the game.
See you at the rink this weekend.
