It was an all rookie affair at the Whitney Forum Saturday night between the Nipawin Hawks and Flin Flon Bombers.

 

Both teams skated with a good pace, and there were some pretty big hits at both ends of the rink too.

 

I thought despite the score, both teams were pretty even with the Hawks getting the upper hand on their scoring chances.

 

The teams traded goals in the opening minutes of the first period, with Nipawin scoring first when Jake Gerbner opened up the game for Nipawin at 3:25. Keegin Randall replied for Flin Flon at 5:54. Grant Baetsen put the Hawks up 30 seconds later, before the Bombers would tie it up with Brodie Madarash getting his first of the night.

 

The Hawks would retake the lead on a couple of late first period goals by Baetsen and Bollefer, to make it 4-2 Nipawin after 1.

 

Nipawin would have a big second period out scoring Flin Flon 4-1. Hawk goal scorers included: Girod with 2, Bollefer ,and Erickson. James Fury had the lone goal for the Bombers. Hawks with a big lead 8-3 after 2.

 

The two teams traded goals in the third with Moeller scoring for the Hawks before Flin Flon responded with a goal from Jaxon White with only 4 minutes remaining in the game.

 

The final score Nipawin 9 and Flin Flon 4.

 

The Bombers had a couple of locals in the lineup including 2000 born goalie Jeremy Dutcuwich who stopped 7 out of 11 in the opening period. 99 born defenseman Ethan Stuckless had a good game and rang one off the post in the second period.

 

Stuckless and Dutcuwich will both suit up for the Norman Northstars in the Manitoba Midget AAA League this up coming season.

 

There were a couple of other players with local connections including Isaac Jackson who was born in Flin Flon and now lives in Warman. Jackson played last year with the Beardy's Blackhawks. Brody Madarash who is from PA, is the son of Flin Flonner and former Bomber Tim Madarash.

 

Madarash is the Bomber all time top scorer in the moderrn era with 258 points in 4 seasons.

 

The rematch will take place in Nipawin Sunday night with more veterans expected in the lineup. It is a busy week for Flin Flon who travel to OCN Thursday and host the Blizzard Saturday.