The Flin Flon Bombers are a junior ice hockey and member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The Bombers are based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada.
The team played its first two years as the Creighton Bombers from 1984 to 1986, then were renamed the Flin Flon Bombers in 1986.
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)
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 Bomber 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 town Flin Flon for Edmonton, Alberta, Great Falls, Montana, and Spokane, Washington.Western Hockey League franchise
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
In 1984, the Creighton Bombers were created fomred in
Creighton, Saskatchewan. 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.
Head Coach: Mike Reagan
Assistant Coach:
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
| 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 |
| 1956–57
| 17
| 12
| 5
| 0
|
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 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
| 5th SJHL
| |
Player Awards
Scoring champions
Goaltender of the Year
Defenseman of the Year
| Season
| League
| Winner
| GP
| Goals
| Assists
| Points |
| 1967–68
| WCJHL
| Gerry Hart
| 58
| 13
| 38
| 51 |
Rookie of the Year
Most Valuable Player
Coach of the Year
2007–08 roster
- 6 - Michael Young - Defence
- 8 - Jean-Sebastien Bergeron - Defence
- 14 - David Dykstra - Forward
- 15 - Myles Masse - Defence
- 16 - Barret Penner - Forward
- 18 - Reid MacLeod - Forward
- 19 - Tommy Castonguay - Forward
- 21 - Cameron MacKinnon - Forward
- 23 - Scott Day - Forward
- 24 - Jean-Michel Allard - Defence
- 25 - Brennan Cox - Defence
- 26 - Cole Wilson - Forward
- 27 - Dominic Martel - Forward
- 28 - Dustyn Clegg - Forward
- 29 - Carsen Chubak - Goaltender
- 32 - Kory Gursky - Defence
- 35 - Calvin Bartel - Goaltender
- 39 - Dennis Kubat - Forward
- 41 - David Linsley - Forward
- 44 - Pierre-Luc Boucher - Forward
- 47 - Harley Garrioch - Defence
See also
External links
