Agfdhyk

This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Flin Flon Bombers
City	Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
League	SJHL
Division	Sherwood Division
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
1980–82	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. Their home rink is the Whitney Forum. Radio station CFAR (102.9 FM, 590 AM) live broadcasts a select number of home and away games throughout the year, as well as all playoff games.

History

The Bombers date back to 1927 and have featured many future hockey greats, including Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach, Ted Hampson, Blaine Stoughton, Gene Carr, Chuck Arnason, Gerry Hart, Ken Baumgartner and Mel Pearson. Their trademark colours are maroon and white, and their home rink is and has always been the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon.

1939–1944

The Bombers played in the Senior Saskatchewan Hockey League for the 1939 to 1944 seasons, and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for the 1950 season. No information is available for the 1945, 1946, and 1947 seasons.

1949–1950: North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

The NSJHL became the SJHL for the 1951 season.

1951–1966: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Memorial Cup championship

The 1956–57 Flin Flon Bombers had no trouble winning their own league, the SJHL, averaging nearly 6 goals a game and allowing only 2 against. They won the league title by 19 points. In the playoffs, they beat the Humboldt Indians 4-games-to-none and won the final over the Prince Albert Mintos 4-games-to-2.

In the Western Canadian playdowns, the Bombers next played Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Junior Hockey League. After allowing the series to be split after four games, the Bombers beat the Oil Kings the next two games to take the series in six. The Bombers then beat the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League's Fort William Canadiens four games straight to win the Abbott Cup.

As per Junior A rules, the Bombers picked up goalie Lynn Davis and defenceman Jean Gauthier from the Fort William and centre Orland Kurtenbach from Prince Albert for the Memorial Cup Finals.

The Eastern Champion was the Ottawa Junior Canadiens. Coached by Sam Pollock and assistant Scotty Bowman. The first three games were in Flin Flon with the series closing out in Regina. The Bombers won the series 4-games-to-2.

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), Bobby Kirk (coach), Hec McCaig (trainer), Jim Wardle (executive), Pinkie Davie (executive), Ken Cunningham (stickboy), Rees Jones (stickboy), Dan McCaig (mascot).

1967: Manitoba Junior Hockey League

The Bombers played for one season in the MJHL before moving on to the WCHL for the 1968 season. See the 1968-1978 WHL section for more details.

1968–1978: Western Hockey League

Note: The Western Hockey League was known as the Western Canadian Hockey League for the 1967-68 season.

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, while the Brandon Wheat Kings and 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' having being dropped). During the 1966–67 season, the Bombers, led by Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach, dominated the MJHL and cruised 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 right winger Reggie Leach, goaltender Chris Worthy, and captain Gerry Hart a defenceman. Defenceman Jack Criel made the second all-star team.

The Clarke-led Bombers continued to dominate with 2 first-place finishes, a loss in the 1968 playoff finals, and a league championship 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. Clarke led the league in scoring both years, and was named Most Valuable Player in 1969.

The growing demands of the WHL caused the Bombers to outgrow their small home arena, and the franchise departed. The club played three and a half dismal seasons after leaving Flin Flon, with iterations as the Edmonton Oil Kings (Alberta, Canada) for the 1979 season, Great Falls Americans (Montana, USA) in 1980, and the Spokane Flyers (Washington, USA) for the 1981 and part of the 1982 season before folding on December 2, 1981.
^[1]

The Bombers resurfaced in 1978 in the NorMan Junior Hockey League.

1978–1984: NorMan Junior Hockey League

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.

1985–Present: 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.

Retired numbers

• # 4 Gerry Hart


• # 7 Mel Pearson


• # 9 Reggie Leach


• #10 Ted Hampson


• #11 Patty Ginnell
  


• #11 Bobby Clarke


• #12 Dale Fox

Notable alumni

Season-by-seasons standings

Playoffs

SSHL (Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League), 1939-1944

• 
  1939 Lost Semi-Final

Moose Jaw Millers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1 (1 tie)

• 
  1940 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1941 Lost Semi-Final

Regina Rangers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 
  1942 Lost Semi-Final

Saskatoon Quakers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 
  1943 Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon RCAF Flyers 3 games to 0

Regina Army Capitals defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 
  1944 Won SSHL championship, lost Semi-Final at Western Canada Allan Cup Playoffs

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Moose Jaw Victorias 2 games to 0

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Navy 3 games to 1 WON SSHL CHAMPIONSHIP

New Westminster CPA Lodestars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1 at Western Canada Allan Cup Playoffs

• 
  1945 to 1948: Missing

NSJHL (North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League), 1949-50

• 
  1949 Lost Semi-Final

Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 1

• 
  1950 Lost Semi-Final

Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1

SJHL (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League), 1951-1966

• 
  1951 Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 3 games to 0 (1 tie)

Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 
  1952 Won SJHL Championship, Lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Wesleys 4 games to 1

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 3 games to 2 WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs

• 
  1953 Won SJHL championship, Lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 4 games to 2

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 4 games to 1 WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Lethbridge Native Sons defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs

• 
  1954 Won SJHL championship, Lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Wesleys 4 games to 3

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 5 games to 4 (1 tie) WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs

• 
  1955 Lost Semi-Final

Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  1956 Won SJHL Championship, Lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt-Melfort Indians 4 games to 1

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 3 games to 2 (2 ties) WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs

• 
  1957 Won SJHL Championship, Won Abbott Cup, Won Memorial Cup

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt-Melfort Indians 4 games to 0

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 4 games to 2 SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 2 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Fort William Canadiens 4 games to 0 WON ABBOTT CUP

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Ottawa-Hull Canadiens 4 games to 3 WON MEMORIAL CUP

• 
  1958 Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 3 games to 1 (2 ties)

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 
  1959 Won SJHL championship, lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Quakers 4 games to 1

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2 WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Winnipeg Braves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Final

• 
  1960 Won SJHL Championship, Lost Western Canada Memorial Cup Playoff Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Quakers 4 games to 2 (1 tie)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1 (1 tie) WON SJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup Semi-Finals

• 
  1961 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1962 Eliminated in the Semi-Final Round Robin

Flin Flon Bombers placed 5th place of 6, 2W-8L-0T

• 
  1963 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1964 Lost in Quarter-Finals

Saskatoon Blades defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 
  1965 Lost in Quarter-Finals

Weyburn Red Wings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  1966 Did Not Qualify

MJHL (Manitoba Junior Hockey League), 1967

• 
  1967 Won MJHL Championship (Turnbull Cup)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 3 games to 0

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 3 games to 2 WON TURNBULL CUP

Port Arthur Marrs (TBJHL) defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in Western Memorial Cup

WCJHL (Western Canada Junior Hockey League), 1968

• 
  1968 Won Quarter-Final, Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 0

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 (1 tie)

WCHL (Western Canada Hockey League), 1969-1978

• 
  1969 Won WCHL Championship, won James Piggott National Championship

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 2 (1 tie)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 0 (1 tie)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 2 WON WCHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Flin Flon Bombers defeated St. Thomas Barons 2 games to 1^† WON JAMES PIGGOTT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

^†Series forfeited by St. Thomas while down two games to one, and losing 4-0 at 10:10 of the second period of the fourth game^[2]

• 
  1970 Won WCHL Championship

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 5 games to 0

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Jets 5 games to 4

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 WON WCHL CHAMPIONSHIP

• 
  1971 Won Quarter-Final, Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg 5 games to 2

Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

• 
  1972 Lost Quarter-Finals

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 2 (2 ties)

• 
  1973 Won Quarter-Finals, Lost Semi-Finals

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 0

Saskatoon Blades defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  1974 Lost Quarter-Finals

Swift Current Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 
  1975 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1976 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1977 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1978 Advanced in Division Semi-Final Round Robin, Advanced in Division Final Round Robin, Eliminated in League Semi-Final Round Robin

Flin Flon Bombers advanced in Division Round Robin to Semi-Final Round Robin (4W-4L)

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1

Flin Flon Bombers eliminated in Semi-Final Round Robin (0W-4L)

NJHL (NorMan Junior Hockey League), 1979-1984

• 
  1979 Won NJHL championship, lost Baldy Northcott Trophy
  

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson Nickel Knights WON NJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Baldy Northcott Trophy: Transcona Railers (MJBHL) defeated Flin Flon Bombers

• 
  1980 Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated The Pas Lumber Kings 3 games to 0

Final: Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1

• 
  1981 Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated The Pas Lumber Kings

Final: Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 
  1982 Won NJHL Championship, lost Turnbull Cup

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson King Miners 4 games to 0 WON NJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Turnbull Cup: Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL) defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 
  1983 Lost Final

Final: The Pas Huskies defeated Flin Flon Bombers

• 
  1984 Won NJHL Championship, lost Turnbull Cup

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson King Miners 4 games to 2 WON NJHL CHAMPIONSHIP

Turnbull Cup: Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

SJHL (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, 1985–Present

• 
  1985 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Weyburn Red Wings defeated Creighton Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  1986 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1987 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1988 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  1989 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Yorkton Terriers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  1990 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  1991 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1992 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  1993 Won SJHL Championship (Hanbidge Cup), won Anavet Cup, eliminated in Centennial Cup Round Robin

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 1

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melville Millionaires 4 games to 3 WON HANBIDGE CUP (SJHL)

Anavet Cup: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Dauphin Kings (BCHL) 4 games to 2 WON ANAVET CUP (SJHL/MJHL)

Centennial Cup Round Robin: Flin Flon Bombers placed fifth in 1993 Centennial Cup Round Robin (0W-4L)

• 
  1994 Lost Preliminary Round

Preliminary Round: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 
  1995 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1996 Lost Preliminary Round

Preliminary Round: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 
  1997 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1998 Did Not Qualify


• 
  1999 Lost Preliminary Round

Preliminary Round: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 
  2000 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  2001 Lost SJHL Semi-Final, Hosted 2001 Royal Bank Cup, Won RBC Semi-Final, Lost RBC Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Semi-Final: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

RBC Cup Round Robin: Third in 2001 Royal Bank Cup Round Robin (2-2)

RBC Cup Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4-0 in Semi-Final

RBC Final: Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) defeated Flin Flon Bombers 5-0 in Final

• 
  2002 Did Not Qualify


• 
  2003 Did Not Qualify


• 
  2004 Did Not Qualify


• 
  2005 Did Not Qualify


• 
  2006 Won Quarter-Final, Lost Semi-Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 3

Semi-Final: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  2007 Did Not Qualify


• 
  2008 Won Quarter-Final, Lost Semi-Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 2

Semi-Final: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  2009 Won Quarter-Final, Lost Semi-Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 0

Semi-Final: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  2010 Lost Quarter-Final

Quarter-Final: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 
  2011 Won Survivor Series, Lost Quarter-Final

Survivor Series: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 3 games to 1

Quarter-Final: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  2012 Lost Survivor Series

Survivor Series: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 
  2013 Won Quarter-Final, Lost Semi-Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 2

Semi-Final: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 
  2014 Lost Wildcard Series

Wildcard Series: Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 2

• 
  2015 Lost Quarter-Final Series

Quarter-Final: Notre Dame Hounds defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 
  2016 Won Quarter-Final, Won Semi-Final, Lost Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 1

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 1

Final: Melfort Mustangs defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 
  2017 Won Quarter-Final, Won Semi-Final

Quarter-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4 games to 1

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 3

Final: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 
  2018 Won Wildcard Series, Lost Quarter-Final

Wildcard Series: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2 games to 1

Quarter-Final: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

Player awards

Scoring champions

Goaltender of the Year

Defenseman of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Most Valuable Player

Player of the Year

Coach of the Year

2017-2018 Roster

^[3][4]

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba


• List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

References

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
  


• Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League