The Flin Flon Bombers hit the ice for the first time Saturday without the services of Cam Blair, Devin Buffalo and Dillon McCombie in a very big game against Laronge.
The Bombers came out with a very good effort, but could not beat Tyler Fuhr the Ice Wolve starting net minder. Fuhr was sensational stopping 40 out of 41 Bomber shots, including 20 in the first period alone and was awarded the game's first star.
Flin Flon did not get on the board until the 18:15 mark of the third period, when Parker Evans Campbell scored his sixth of the season, shovelling a loose puck under Fuhr who was laying on the ice.
The Ice Wolves got goals from: Owen Laclare who scored a pair his 17th and 18th of the season, and Macoretta (6) and Beauregard his 23rd.
Flin Flon and Laronge are now tied in the standings with 34 points, two points behind Melfort and Nipawin for first place.
The Bombers have 19 games remaining with 10 games against teams in their own division. If the Bombers are going to finish first in their division and make a playoff push, they are going to have to play better within the division where they are 5-5 so far.
I thought one of the new pickups Austin Evans, who came over in the Cam Blair deal from Battleford, had an exceptional game and was a force all night.
This guy can skate and has a tremendous work ethic, and will be a lot's of fun to watch in maroon and white the next couple of seasons.
Next up for the Bombers will be the defending champs from Yorkton who are struggling a little bit in 2014. The Terriers are 4-4-1-1 in their last 10. This will also be the first time that Brett Boehm will suit up against his former club, since the surprising trade on December the 11th.
Boehm has been on fire since his trade to Yorkton and has scored in all but one game for the Terriers since he was dealt there in early December. Boehm is second in team scoring with 38 points including 19 goals.
The Whitney crowd will no doubt be excited about his return. I spoke to Dalton Menke on Saturday, the player who came over from the Terriers for Boehm and he is much looking forward to facing off against his old team this Friday.
Both of Menke's brothers played and won championships with Yorkton and was caught off guard when Trent Cassan told him he had been traded. Menke loves it in Flin Flon and looks forward to a great career in Northern Manitoba.
Unfortunately no broadcast of the game Friday, but we will have both Sherwood battles from Nipawin and Melfort next Tuesday and Wednesday on 102.0 CFAR and flinflononline.com. Murray GM Coach's Show at 7:15, with play by play at 7:30.
