Flin Flon Bombers

Flin Flon Bombers
League	SJHL
Division	ITECH
Founded	1927
Arena	Whitney Forum
Location	Flin Flon
Team Colors	Maroon and White
Head Coach	Mike Reagan

The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey team and member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The Bombers are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. The team played as the Creighton Bombers from 1984 to 1986, then were renamed the Flin Flon Bombers in 1986. Radio station CFAR (AM) 590 broadcasts Bombers games.

History

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 colors 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.

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1951–1966)

Memorial Cup championship

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.

Championship roster

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).

Western Hockey League (1967–1978)

Bobby Clarke's Bombers jersey on display at the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver.

The Bobby Clarke era

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, lead 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.

Western Hockey League franchise

• Flin Flon Bombers 1967–78
• Edmonton Oil Kings 1978–79
• Great Falls Americans 1979–80
• Spokane Flyers 1980–81

The WCHL franchise rights were sold off to the Edmonton Oil Kings, but the Bombers resurfaced the next season in the Northern Manitoba Junior Hockey League, where they played until 1984.

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

In 1984, the Bombers were temporarily renamed the Creighton Bombers and were relocated to Creighton, Saskatchewan to play in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. In 1986, the SJHL granted the team permission to play out of Manitoba but still play in the SJHL. They changed their name to the traditional Flin Flon Bombers. Creighton and Flin Flon are neighbouring towns on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border.

General Manager & Head Coach: Mike Reagan

Retired numbers

• # 4 Gerry Hart
• # 7 Mel Pearson
• # 9 Reggie Leach
• #10 Ted Hampson
• #11 Paddy Ginnell
• #11 Bobby Clarke
• #12 Dale Fox

Alumni

Season-by-seasons standings

Player Awards

Scoring champions

Goaltender of the Year

Defenseman of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Most Valuable Player

Coach of the Year

2009–10 roster

• 1 - Matt Weninger - Goaltender
• 6 - Michael Young - Defence
• 8 - Jesse Mychan - Forward
• 14 - Devin Mitzner - Forward
• 15 - David Dykstra - Defence
• 16 - Mathieu Lecours - Forward
• 17 - Mike Rey - Forward
• 18 - Patrick Sitko - Defence
• 19 - Jeff Lorenz - Forward
• 20 - Ben Bitz - Forward
• 21 - Darren Gillen - Forward
• 23 - David Roper - Defence
• 24 - Shane Goodrunning - Forward
• 25 - Brennan Cox - Defence
• 26 - Andrew Johnston - Forward
• 27 - Dominic Martel - Forward
• 28 - Corey Dupre - Forward
• 29 - Klynt Spencer - Goaltender
• 39 - Doug McLeod - Forward
• 41 - Patrick Howey - Defence
• 44 - Alex Lamontagne - Forward
• 47 - Jonathan Young - Defence

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba
• List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

External links

• Flin Flon Bombers official site
• 1956-57 Flin Flon Bombers at Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
• 1956-57 Flin Flon Bombers at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

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