It was another good weekend for the Flin Flon Bombers who went into North Battleford and were able to take three points from a very good Stars team.
On Friday the Bombers built up a quick 2-0 lead on goals from Keefe Gruener (9) and Rhett Ewen (4) and never looked back picking up the 4 to 1 victory.
Carter Cormier (11) and Keefe Gruener would add his second of the night and 10th of the year on the powerplay added some insurance.
Jace Rask scored his fourth of the year for Jace Rask was the only player to beat Matthew Kieper who made 20 saves to pick up his 7th straight win since coming to the Bombers in late October.
Kieper in the reigning SJHL Goalie Of The Month and his stats are staggering with a GAA of 1.84 and Save % of .942 and is a big reason why the Bombers are on such a tear.
Flin Flon fired 43 shots at Justin Maric and if the veteran goalie wasn't at his best the score could of been a lot more lopsided.
We were expecting the Stars to be a lot better on Saturday and they were and this time it was Battleford getting off to a great start. Jace Rask with his second in as many nights and Braden Neinaber scored before the game was 10 minutes old.
Flin Flon did settle down and Keefe Gruener got the Bombers on the board when he tapped home a nice pass from Joey Lies ealy in the second period to get his team within one.
This was Guener's third of the weekend who is back to the player that we saw in September and early October before he got injured.
Joey Lies played his two best games of the season and would tie the game when he took advantage of a Stars miscue in their own zone and beat Justin Maric low blocker side.
Flin Flon continued to pour it on and out shot the Stars 12 to 2 in the third and 35 to 17 in the game, could not get another puck past Justin Maric who was the best player on the ice.
Despite dominating 5 on 5 in regulation, the Bombers couldn't get going in overtime and were back on their heels for most of the OT. A couple Bomber players got caught on the ice for to long, which led to Rylan Williams being left alone in front of the net and he converted a nice pass from Elijah Anderson to end the game.
Kenny Marquart got the start and played well despite the loss with 14 saves on 17 shots. This was Marquarts first ever start at Access Communications Centre.
Justin Maric was incredible again and made 33 saves on 35 shots
and helped the Stars steal this one. Even with 3 out of 4 points which is always good on the road Flin Flon thought they deserved better.
All in all Flin Flon is very happy with the road trip and their play without Bomber bench boss Mike Reagan as well as players Koen Senft and Luke Lepper who are away at the World JR A Challenge.
Flin Flon went 3-0-1 and grabbed 7 out of a possible 8 points and sit third overall at 16-9-2 and are just one point behind the Stars for second overall.
The Bombers will play three more games before the Christmas break as they host the Nipawin Hawks on Tuesday and close out 2023 with a home and home with the Laronge Ice Wolves on Friday and Saturday.
Friday and Saturday's games will both be broadcast on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com.
