It was the first meaningful game between the Flin Flon Bombers and Dauphin Kings since the  1993 Annavet Cup  and it did not disappoint.

 

These two legendary clubs met yesterday at the Centennial Cup in Estevan and the two goalies stole the show.

 

The Bombers Cal Schell and Kings Carson Cherepak went head to head in what has been the best goaltending display at this year's National Championship.

 

The game lived up to the billing and it isn't very often you get two Manitoba teams in a head to head match up at this tournament.

 

Flin Flon was coming off a 4 to 1 loss against Summerside which was their weakest game of the tournament and wanted to start quick.

 

The Bombers were able to score first when Jacob Vockler fired a shot stick side on a screened Carson Cherepak mid way through the first period. This was a power play goal and was the only goal the Bombers could muster in 60 minutes.

 

Dauphin scored their lone goal short handed,  when Logan Calder grabbed a Bomber turn over in front of the net and beat Cal Schell early in the second with a shot just under the bar.

 

Both teams had lots of good chances to try to win the game but both goalies were lights out and it remained tied at one through regulation.

 

Flin Flon would hit OT for the second time in the tournament and dominated the Kings out shooting them 5 to 0 but couldn't beat Cherepak. The Bombers also fired a couple off the post.

 

They couldn't settle it 3 on 3 so the ever popular shoot out would be needed.

 

With the way the two goalies were playing, I thought we might be there for a while.

 

The Bombers were determined not to let a great effort get away and scored two beautiful goals courtesy of Jaeden Mercier and Jacob Vockler. Mercier's in particular was a thing of beauty pulling Cherepak to one side and sliding the puck into the open side.

 

Schell stopped two out of three Dauphin shooters to preserve the win.

 

Flin Flon would get the shoot out win 2 to 1 and are guaranteed to go the playoff round.

 

Cal Schell was once again marvelous stopping 26 out of 27 while Carson Cherepak made 40 saves.

 

Penalties were also a big part of the story with the Bombers going 1 for 8 and Dauphin finished up 0 for 5 on the pp.

 

Flin Flon will finish the round robin at 3-1 and will play in the Quarter Finals on Friday against an opponent yet to be determined.

 

They should know who they are playing after the round robin concludes tonight.