| Flin Flon Bombers | |
|---|---|
| City | Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada |
| League | SJHL |
| Division | Bauer |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Home arena | Whitney Forum |
| Colours | Maroon and White |
| Head coach | Mike Reagan |
|
Website http://www.bombers.ca |
|
| Franchise history | |
| 1927–1984 | Flin Flon Bombers |
| 1984–1986 | Creighton Bombers |
| 1986–Present | Flin Flon Bombers |
| Previous franchise history | |
| 1967–78 | Flin Flon Bombers |
| 1978–79 | Edmonton Oil Kings |
| 1979–80 | Great Falls Americans |
| 1980–81 | Spokane Flyers |
The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and current member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), and are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team moved and became the Edmonton Oil Kings in 1978, but the Flin Flon Bomber name was retained. The team was briefly known as the Creighton Bombers from 1984 to 1986 (due to SJHL rules) but were allowed to change the name back to the Flin Flon Bombers in 1986. Radio station CFAR (AM) 590 live broadcasts a select number of home and away games throughout the year.
Contents |
The origins of the Bombers go back to 1927, churning out future NHL players such as Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, Blaine Stoughton, Gene Carr, Chuck Arnason, Gerry Hart, Ken Baumgartner and Mel Pearson. Clad in their familiar colours of maroon and white, the Bombers host their opponents at the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon, often cited as the most enthusiastic rink in the SJHL.
The 1956–57 Flin Flon Bombers breezed thru the SJHL, averaging nearly 6 goals a game, while allowing only 2 against, winning the league title by 19 points. In the playoffs, they beat Humboldt Indians four straight and won the final in six games over the Prince Albert Mintos.
Next came the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WJHL. After splitting the first four games, Flin Flon beat the Oil Kings two straight to clinch the series 4–2. The Bombers became the first team from the SJHL to reach the Western junior final. They quickly showed that they belonged by sweeping the Fort William Canadiens four games straight to capture the Abbott Cup.
As allowed by CAHA regulations, the Bombers picked up back-up goalie Lynn Davis and defenceman Jean Gauthier from the Lakehead and centre Orland Kurtenbach from Prince Albert for the Memorial Cup.
Coming west for the Canadian championship was a powerhouse assembled by the Montreal Canadiens. Coached by Sam Pollock and assistant Scotty Bowman, the Ottawa Junior Canadiens won the eastern final in five games. The first three games were in Flin Flon with the balance in Regina, where Montreal sponsored the junior Pats. Game one was delayed for two days, but the Bombers were ready for the heavily favoured easterners and went on to a 3–1 victory. The Canadiens won the next two games 4–3 and 5–2. In Regina, the Bombers won 3–1 and 3–2, but the easterners fought back to tie the series with a 4–2 victory in game six. On May 8, the Flin Flon Bombers brought the Memorial Cup west, for the first time since 1948, with a 3–2 victory.
The 1956–57 Flin Flon Bombers were inducted into both the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
Harvey Fleming, Carl Forster, Cliff Lennartz, Barry Beatty, Mike Kardash, Duane Rupp, George Konik, Mel Pearson, Ken Willey, Rod Lee, Wayne Sproxton, Ted Hampson (captain), George Wood, Lynn Davis, Jean Gauthier, Ron Hutchinson, Orland Kurtenbach, Pat Ginnell, Doug Dawson (manager), Bob Kirk (coach), Hec McCaig (trainer), Jim Wardle (executive), Pinkie Davie (executive), Ken Cunningham (stickboy), Rees Jones (stickboy), Dan McCaig (mascot).
In 1966, Bill Hunter lead the formation of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, 5 of the 8 teams in the SJHL joined, the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Flin Flon Bombers joined the Manitoba Junior Hockey league. After one season both would leave and also join the Western Canada Hockey League (the word 'Junior' being dropped from its name). But during the 1966–67 season, the Bombers, led by Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach, dominated the MJHL cruising to a league championship, capturing the Turnbull Memorial Cup. Clarke set league records for most assists (112), goals (71), and points (183). Besides the scoring title, Clarke was also the MJHL rookie of the year, and first team all-star centre. Joining Clarke on the first all-star team were rightwinger Reggie Leach, goaltender Chris Worthy, and captain Gerry Hart a defenceman. Defenceman Jack Criel made the second all-star team.
Entering the WCHL the Clarke led Bombers continued to dominate, 2 first place finishes, and in the playoffs losing in the final in 1968, and a league championship in 1969. Clarke led the league in scoring both years, and was named Most Valuable Player in 1969. The Bombers won a "National Championship" in 1969 by defeating the St. Thomas Barons of the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League in an unsanctioned best-of-7 series aimed at rivaling the Memorial Cup.
The growing demands of the WHL caused the Bombers to outgrow their small home arena, and the franchise departed. The club played three dismal seasons in three different cities after leaving Flin Flon. These cities were Edmonton, Alberta, Great Falls, Montana, and Spokane, Washington.
The WCHL franchise rights were sold off to the Edmonton Oil Kings, but the Bombers resurfaced the next season in the NorMan Junior Hockey League, where they played until 1984.
In 1977, the Bombers formed a Junior B team as a feeder system. The Jr. B Bombers would eventually win the Baldy Northcott Trophy as Manitoba Provincial Junior B Champions. In the summer of 1978, the ownership sold the Junior A Bombers WCHL rights to Edmonton (where the team would become the ill-fated Edmonton Oil Kings). The Flin Flon ownership, along with the owners of the Thompson King Miners, banded together with people from The Pas, Manitoba and Snow Lake, Manitoba to create a rival Jr. B league to the Manitoba Jr. B League - the NorMan Junior Hockey League (NJHL). After one season, the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association granted the league Tier II Junior A status and the right to compete against the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for Turnbull Cup for a chance to win the Anavet Cup, Abbott Cup, and Centennial Cup.
Flin Flon won NJHL titles in 1979, 1982, and 1984. The Bombers had the distinction of being the only NJHL team to ever beat a MJHL team in a playoff game in the 1984 Turnbull Cup. In 1984, the Bombers were granted expansion into the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Flin Flon is located on the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border with a portion of the city in both provinces, while Creighton is located approximately 1 km from Flin Flon and is wholly within Saskatchewan. In 1984, the Bombers were temporarily renamed the Creighton Bombers to allow them to play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, even though no relocation actually occurred, and, in fact, the team was still referred to as the Flin Flon Bombers in all non-official context. In 1986 the SJHL granted the team permission to remain in the league but play out of Manitoba, which allowed the Bombers to revert their name back to the traditional Flin Flon Bombers.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| 1951–52 | 50 | 18 | 27 | 5 | 211 | 236 | 41 | 4th SJHL | Won League | ||
| 1952–53 | 45 | 30 | 13 | 2 | 200 | 183 | 62 | 1st SJHL | Won League | ||
| 1953–54 | 48 | 27 | 21 | 0 | 297 | 204 | 54 | 2nd SJHL | Won League | ||
| 1954–55 | 48 | 23 | 24 | 1 | 218 | 215 | 47 | 2nd SJHL | |||
| 1955–56 | 48 | 37 | 10 | 1 | 301 | 149 | 75 | 1st SJHL | Won League | ||
| 1956–57 | 53 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 309 | 108 | 94 | 1st SJHL | Won League, Won Memorial Cup | ||
| 1957–58 | 55 | 28 | 25 | 2 | 220 | 177 | 58 | 3rd SJHL | |||
| 1958–59 | 48 | 35 | 12 | 1 | 269 | 144 | 71 | 1st SJHL | |||
| 1959–60 | 54 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 301 | 189 | 82 | 3rd SJHL | Won League | ||
| 1960–61 | 60 | 25 | 28 | 7 | 184 | 203 | 57 | 5th SJHL | |||
| 1961–62 | 56 | 29 | 22 | 5 | 244 | 199 | 63 | 3rd SJHL | |||
| 1962–63 | 54 | 17 | 35 | 2 | 152 | 237 | 36 | 7th SJHL | |||
| 1963–64 | 62 | 19 | 32 | 11 | 262 | 304 | 49 | 6th SJHL | |||
| 1964–65 | 56 | 21 | 29 | 6 | 255 | 298 | 48 | 5th SJHL | |||
| 1965–66 | 60 | 8 | 51 | 1 | 199 | 490 | 17 | 8th SJHL | |||
| 1966–67 | 58 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 406 | 125 | 104 | 1st MJHL | Won League | ||
| 1967–68 | 60 | 47 | 8 | 5 | - | 361 | 143 | 99 | 1st WCJHL | Lost Final | |
| 1968–69 | 60 | 47 | 13 | 0 | - | 343 | 159 | 94 | 1st WCHL | Won Championship | |
| 1969–70 | 60 | 42 | 18 | 0 | - | 257 | 176 | 84 | 1st WCHL | Won Championship | |
| 1970–71 | 66 | 41 | 23 | 2 | - | 306 | 224 | 84 | 2nd WCHL East | Lost Final | |
| 1971–72 | 68 | 31 | 36 | 1 | - | 265 | 307 | 63 | 4th WCHL East | Lost Quarter-Final | |
| 1972–73 | 68 | 39 | 19 | 10 | - | 334 | 228 | 88 | 2nd WCHL East | Lost Semi-Final | |
| 1973–74 | 68 | 34 | 21 | 13 | - | 322 | 259 | 81 | 2nd WCHL East | Lost Quarter-Final | |
| 1974–75 | 70 | 19 | 42 | 9 | - | 262 | 389 | 47 | 6th WCHL East | DNQ | |
| 1975–76 | 72 | 18 | 44 | 10 | - | 279 | 441 | 46 | 6th WCHL East | DNQ | |
| 1976–77 | 72 | 16 | 42 | 14 | - | 294 | 411 | 46 | 3rd WCHL East | DNQ | |
| 1977–78 | 72 | 33 | 30 | 9 | - | 396 | 380 | 75 | 2nd WCHL East | Lost in Semi-Final | |
| 1978-79 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | - | 210 | -- | 42 | 1st NJHL | Won League | |
| 1978–80 | NMJHL Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1980-81 | 42 | 27 | 12 | 3 | - | -- | -- | 57 | 1st NJHL | Lost Final | |
| 1981-82 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 0 | - | 544 | 146 | 84 | 1st NJHL | Won League | |
| 1982–84 | NMJHL Statistics Not Available | ||||||||||
| 1984–85 | 64 | 16 | 48 | 0 | - | 294 | 495 | 32 | 8th SJHL | Lost 1st Round | |
| 1985–86 | 60 | 13 | 46 | 1 | - | 234 | 452 | 27 | 10th SJHL | DNQ | |
| 1986–87 | 64 | 13 | 50 | 1 | - | 249 | 430 | 27 | 9th SJHL | DNQ | |
| 1987–88 | 60 | 21 | 35 | 4 | - | 207 | 337 | 46 | 8th SJHL | ||
| 1988–89 | 64 | 36 | 26 | 2 | - | 342 | 303 | 74 | 3rd SJHL North | ||
| 1989–90 | 68 | 30 | 33 | 5 | - | 293 | 325 | 65 | 4th SJHL North | Lost 1st Round | |
| 1990–91 | 68 | 27 | 36 | 5 | - | 208 | 286 | 59 | 5th SJHL North | DNQ | |
| 1991–92 | 64 | 27 | 32 | 5 | - | 206 | 243 | 59 | 3rd SJHL North | Lost Quarter-Final | |
| 1992–93 | 64 | 35 | 23 | 6 | - | 277 | 215 | 76 | 2nd SJHL North | Won League, Won Anavet Cup | |
| 1993–94 | 68 | 36 | 28 | 4 | - | 272 | 259 | 76 | 4th SJHL North | Lost 1st Round | |
| 1994–95 | 64 | 14 | 44 | 6 | - | 184 | 336 | 34 | 6th SJHL North | DNQ | |
| 1995–96 | 64 | 21 | 38 | 5 | - | 201 | 280 | 47 | 5th SJHL North | Lost 1st Round | |
| 1996–97 | 64 | 23 | 37 | 4 | - | 204 | 250 | 50 | 6th SJHL North | DNQ | |
| 1997–98 | 64 | 23 | 33 | 8 | - | 191 | 249 | 54 | 6th SJHL North | DNQ | |
| 1998–99 | 66 | 34 | 29 | 3 | - | 194 | 224 | 71 | 5th SJHL North | Lost 1st Round | |
| 1999–00 | 60 | 29 | 27 | 4 | - | 215 | 180 | 62 | 5th SJHL North | Lost Quarter-Final | |
| 2000–01 | 62 | 44 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 271 | 182 | 91 | 1st SJHL | Lost Semi-Final | |
| 2001–02 | 64 | 10 | 46 | 6 | 2 | 170 | 334 | 28 | 6th SJHL Dodge | DNQ | |
| 2002–03 | 60 | 10 | 41 | 6 | 3 | 168 | 290 | 29 | 7th SJHL Dodge | DNQ | |
| 2003–04 | 60 | 17 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 183 | 238 | 49 | 5th SJHL Dodge | DNQ | |
| 2004–05 | 55 | 10 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 138 | 244 | 29 | 6th SJHL Itech | DNQ | |
| 2005–06 | 55 | 19 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 173 | 216 | 41 | 5th SJHL Itech | Lost Quarter-Final | |
| 2006–07 | 58 | 18 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 264 | 38 | 6th SJHL Itech | DNQ | |
| 2007–08 | 58 | 33 | 21 | - | 4 | 219 | 172 | 70 | 3nd SJHL Itech | Lost Conference Final | |
| 2008-09 | 56 | 32 | 20 | - | 4 | 213 | 168 | 68 | 2nd SJHL Itech | Lost Conference Final | |
| 2009-10 | 58 | 37 | 17 | - | 4 | 214 | 157 | 78 | 2nd SJHL | Lost Conference Semi-Final | |
| 2010-11 | 58 | 25 | 31 | - | 2 | 196 | 212 | 52 | 9th SJHL | Lost Quarter-final | |
NJHL Years
MJHL Years
| Season | League | Winner | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-68 | WCJHL | Bobby Clarke | 59 | 51 | 117 | 168 |
| 1968-69 | WCJHL | Bobby Clarke | 58 | 51 | 86 | 137 |
| 1969-70 | WCHL | Reggie Leach | 57 | 65 | 46 | 111 |
| 1970-71 | WCHL | Chuck Arnason | 66 | 79 | 84 | 163 |
| Season | League | Winner | GP | Wins | Shutouts | Average |
| 1967–68 | WCJHL | Chris Worthy | 60 | 47 | 10 | 2:39 |
| 1968–69 | WCJHL | Ray Martyniuk | 41 | NA | 6 | 2:52 |
| 1969–70 | WCHL | Ray Martyniuk | 43 | NA | 4 | 2:58 |
| Season | League | Winner | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 1967–68 | WCJHL | Gerry Hart | 58 | 13 | 38 | 51 |
| Season | League | Winner | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 1969–70 | WCHL | Gene Carr | 60 | 22 | 51 | 73 |
| 1973-74 | WCHL | Cam Connor | 65 | 47 | 44 | 91 |
| Season | League | Winner | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 1968-69 | WCJHL | Bobby Clarke | 58 | 51 | 86 | 137 |
| 1969-70 | WCHL | Reggie Leach | 57 | 65 | 46 | 111 |
| Season | League | Winner |
| 1969-70 | WCHL | Patty Ginnell |
| 1970-71 | WCHL | Patty Ginnell |
| 1972-73 | WCHL | Patty Ginnell |
| Number | Player | Position | Height | Weight | DOB | Home Town |
| TBA | Brett Boehm | RW | 6' 01" | 180 lbs | n/a | Martensville, SK |
| TBA | JJ Coleshaw | LW | 6' 01" | 190 lbs | n/a | Saskatoon, SK |
| 3 | Justin Schoffer | D | 5' 10" | 179 lbs | May 23, 1993 | Saskatoon, SK |
| 5 | James McNulty | D | 6' 04" | 215 lbs | May 2, 1991 | Fenton, MI |
| 6 | Brandt Weldon | D | 6' 00" | 185 lbs | November 26, 1992 | Prince Albert, SK |
| 8 | Kyle Oleniuk | C | 5' 10" | 175 lbs | June 29, 1993 | Medstead, SK |
| 13 | Brett Penner | C | 5' 11" | 180 lbs | November 29, 1992 | Medstead, SK |
| 14 | Tanner Clarke | D | 5' 11" | 170 lbs | April 23, 1993 | Rosetown, SK |
| 16 | Riley Storzuk | LW | 6' 00" | 200 lbs | May 30, 1992 | Wynyard, SK |
| 17 | Dylan Balaski | RW | 6' 00" | 215 lbs | June 17, 1992 | Swift Current, SK |
| 18 | David Roper | D | 5' 11" | 185 lbs | July 2, 1991 | Calgary, AB |
| 19 | Cameron Blair | C | 5' 11" | 187 lbs | September 5, 1993 | Drake, SK |
| 20 | Dillan McCombie | RW | 5' 07" | 155 lbs | December 29, 1994 | Flin Flon, MB |
| 21 | Andrew Allan | RW | 6' 01" | 187 lbs | February 26, 1992 | Winnipeg, MB |
| 22 | Dylan MacNab | RW | 5' 11" | 166 lbs | May 18, 1992 | Saskatoon, SK |
| 23 | Dallen Hall | D | 6' 01" | 180 lbs | June 30, 1993 | Red Deer, AB |
| 24 | Greg Wiwcharuk | LW | 5' 06" | 154 lbs | March 5, 1993 | Snow Lake, MB |
| 25 | Brock Hounsell | D | 6' 01" | 197 lbs | February 26, 1993 | Martensville, SK |
| 27 | Stefan Virtanen | D | 6' 02" | 202 lbs | February 27, 1992 | Abbotsford, BC |
| 28 | Konrad Litke | LW | 6' 01" | 200 lbs | August 14, 1992 | Calgary, AB |
| 39 | Cole McCaig | C | 5' 08" | 163 lbs | April 26, 1993 | Flin Flon, MB |
| 41 | Jesse Mysiorek | RW | 6' 01" | 190 lbs | July 5, 1991 | Fort Qu'Appelle, SK |
| 44 | Landon Heibert | RW | 5' 10" | 171 lbs | July 6, 1993 | Red Deer, AB |
| 47 | Jay Young | D | 6' 02" | 220 lbs | March 26, 1991 | Chestermere, AB |
| 29 | Devin Buffalo | G | 6' 00" | 160 lbs | September 1, 1993 | Wetaskewin, AB |
| 35 | Andy Desaultes | G | 6' 03" | 185 lbs | November 30, 1993 | Regina, SK |
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||