The Flin Flon Bombers attempt at a fourth straight SJHL Final appearance has officially ended as the team fell 3-2 in overtime in Game Six.
The Bombers dropped the first three games of the best-of-seven series before making things interesting winning the next two. In Game six, local product Ryder Mucha opened the scoring and gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead heading into the middle frame. The Red Wings would storm back and score a power play marker as well as a shorthanded goal to give themselves the lead heading into the final period. Another local product Joey Lies would find the equalizer near the half-way point of the third period and send the game into overtime.
However nearly five minutes into the extra frame, Red Wings forward Josh Sale would send the Red Wings to their first SJHL Final since 2012 with a deflection in front.
The loss marked the end of the SJHL careers for Flin Flon’s nine twenty-year olds, Matthew Kieper, Liam Hunks, team captain Cole Tanchuk, Carter Cormier, Leighton Carruthers, Ryder Ringor and alternate captains, Keefe Gruener, Anthony Piccininno and Kylynn Olafson.
Ringor led the Bombers in playoff scoring with 17 points in 12 games. As of April 15th Ringor, Hunks and Piccininno were all sitting in 1st, 2nd and 3rd in SJHL scoring. Goaltender Matthew Kieper had a 1.89 GAA & .935 SV% in 12 starts.
