It all begins for real tonight folks.

 

The SJHL Regular season will kick off in 5 different centres including the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre in Laronge.

 

That is where the defending league Champion Flin Flon Bombers will kick off their historic 100th season.

 

There are so many story lines heading into this season including a new bench boss for the Maroon and White. This will be the first time in 19 years that Mike Reagan will not be the Head Coach and GM of this hockey team.

 

Reagan moved on to the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL and the team welcomed back popular former player and Assistant Coach Cole McCaig.

 

McCaig was the natural fit to replace Mike as he spent 7 years an an Assistant To Mike between 2018 and 2025.

 

The players are very familiar with him and he is very respected in the hockey world and he knows the importance of the history and continued success of this legendary team.

 

Flin Flon is coming off a season that saw them win 41 games en route to their first League Championship in 33 years. They will bring 14 players from last year and the organization just got a huge shot in the arm.

 

Finn Werner is back between the pipes after being released from Everett of the WHL and he should be one of the top goalies in the SJHL this season.

 

Werner was sensational in his rookie campaign where he went 13-2-0-1 with a GAA of 1.88 and a Save % of .925.

 

The Bombers are very excited to have Werner back and he is expected to get the start tonight.

 

Other returnees include Forwards Leo Seitz, Ryder Mucha, Nathan Lalumiere, Ryan Ulmer, Keaton Lesperance, Rhett Ewen, Landon Alexander , Wyatt Stinton, Hudson Brehaut and Jack Martin.

 

On Defense the Bombers will welcome back Nash Holmes, Jared Miskiw, Kyle Marsden and Brayden Bruce. Flin Flon was also able to re-acquire  Jared Bigelow from Warman.

 

Bigelow started the season with the Bombers last year but was dealt to the Wolverines due to a numbers game on the Bomber back end.

 

This will change in the next few weeks as the Bombers still owe three roster players to the Humboldt Broncos to complete last year's Blockbuster trade at the deadline  for Charlie Tritt, Ryder Knutson and Connor Miller.

 

The three players will be named on October the 1st. Local product Wyatt Stinton will be sidelined with an injury for the first half of the season and is not expected to dress til the New Year.

 

Laronge will also have a new face behind the bench as Taylor Harnett will make his SJHL regular season debut. Harnett may be new to the SJHL, but not coaching as he brings in lots of experience including his time in the MJHL with Way Way and he also has experience in the BCHL and AJHL.

 

A familiar face is also back in  Laronge including SJHL Hall Of Famer Bob Beatty who won a couple of League Championships with the Wolves in the mid 2000's.

 

Bob returns as the new GM and should really help with the recruiting.

 

No where to go but up for the Wolves as they will try to improve on their 12th place finish that saw them go 11-40-4-1, but did beat the Bombers at the end of last season.

 

No doubt there will be a great atmosphere tonight and it should be a very entertaining hockey game.

 

Flin Flon will host the Wolves in their Home Opener next Friday to kick off the Hall Of Fame Weekend. Tickets are almost sold out for the Hall Of Fame Gala  and you need to go to Bombers.ca asap to guarantee yourself a ticket.

 

Don't forget to tune in to Creighton Furniture Flin Flon Bomber Hockey tonight from the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre beginning with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 8:10 and drop of the puck at 8:30pm.