The long wait is finally over for one of the most historic sports franchises and best known hockey clubs on the planet.
The Flin Flon Bombers are SJHL Champions for the first time in 33 years thanks to a 4 game sweep of the Yorkton Terriers in the Canterra Seeds Cup Final.
Flin Flon capped an amazing season with a 2 to 0 win in Yorkton on Thursday night.
The game was scoreless after two periods before Flin Flon's Daniel Morozov, just back from injury went to work. Morozov took a nice feed from Reid Arberry just over two minutes into the final period and snapped a nice low shot past Terrier netminder Alexandro Montoya to the delight of hundreds of Bomber fans in attendance.
Morozov wasn't done as he would deposit his second of the night and 4th of the playoffs to seal the game at the midway point of the period to give the Bombers a little insurance.
A stingy Bomber defense led by SJHL Goalie Of The Year Charlie Tritt held the fort as the final seconds ticked down and the Bombers picked up the 2 to 0 victory for the franchises first championship in over 30 years.
Tritt ended up with 25 saves for the win and 4th shutout of the playoffs which I believe may be a new team record.
There was jubilation all over the Bomber Nation from the more than 300 fans who travelled to Yorkton, the fans who gathered at the Whitney Forum to watch on the Jumbotron, to fans watching on tv or listening to the radio across the country and globe.
This is something some fans have been waiting a lifetime for after coming so close many times before. Flin Flon had been to the final dance 5 other times including 4 of the last 5 years only to see their season end in heart break. The final against Estevan back in 2022 is still fresh on a lot of fans minds including mine, thinking If Only They Had Called A Penalty on the Trip of Drew Kuzma in the dieing seconds which allowed the Bruins to tie the game then eventually win in Over Time in game five.
The Bombers returned home to hammer Estevan in game six only to lose game 7 in Estevan's barn after a dramatic run that year.
Flin Flon was not going to be denied this time and after a tough 7 game semi final win over the Weyburn Red Wings , the Bombers brimming with all kinds of confidence were the better team for the entire league final.
The Bombers took game one at the Whitney Forum 7 to 3 and never looked back out scoring Yorkton 18 to 6 in the four games chasing Terrier starting goalie Callum Creig on two different occasions.
This was an incredible team assembled by long time Head Coach and GM Mike Reagan which didn't have any superstars but a lot of really good two way players with a lot of heart. I have broadcast games for this franchise for the last 30 years and I don't remember a complete team like this.
They ran four lines all season with 7 very capable defensemen and the best one two punch in between the pipes. All season long the players commented about how tight a group it was and they proved it every time they stepped on the ice.
The fans are second to none and I know I will never forget the electric Whitney Forum atmosphere which was very fun to be a part of , not to mention broadcast in front of.
This is obviously special for long time Head Coach and GM Mike Reagan who grew up in Flin Flon and played for the team in the late 90's. Reagan was actually hired as an Assistant Coach in 2007 but was handed the Head Coaching reigns just prior to the start of the season.
The rest is history as Reagan is the winningest coach in the franchise’s history with over 600 coaching victories, not to mention has been behind the bench for over 1000 games. A league title was the only thing missing from his resume and Reagan finally has that after many years of hard work and decication.
Reagan was on the CFAR Post Game Show after the Championship victory on Thursday night. " I feel incredible, I feel like the smokestack has been lifted off my shoulders right here. As you know this has been a long time coming as it isn't about me, it is about our community and every guy that put that Bomber jersey on. Past board members, fans, family and people like Cole McCaig who I wish was still here right now. Lots of former players were here and there are so many people I want to thank including former President Hank Kozar and Paul Garret who gave me a chance to coach this team at a young age."
Local product and four year player Joey Lies was elated after the win as well. " This means everything to me , everyone here including all our fans, former team mates, my family, this is unreal. This has been what we have been working for the last four years and man it feels so good."
The final icing on the cake was the trade with the Humboldt Broncos when the Bombers added forward Connor Miller, defenseman Ryder Knutson and goalie Charlie Tritt on January the 10th.
All three players were instrumental in the team's success with Connor Miller selected as the SJHL MVP after leading the team in goals (9) and points (15). Miller also won a lot of big faceoffs and was a terrific leader.
Charlie Tritt ended up 11-3 with 4 shut-outs and a GAA of 1.67 and Save % of .938, while Knutson was a anchor on the Bomber blueline and contributed 8 points including two goals. One of his biggest goals was the game winner in Weyburn in game three of the SJHL Semi Final.
The Flin Flon Bombers will now represent the SJHL at the Centennial Cup in Summerside PEI between May the 7th and 17th. This will be the Bombers
fourth time at the National Championship after winning in 1993, hosting in 2001, runner up in Estevan in 2022 and winning it all in 2026.
Not a bad way to celebrate as the Bombers get ready to celebrate their 100th season. You can say that it was just meant to be.
Celebrate Bomber Nation, YOU DESERVE THIS.
