Pint-sized puckhounds descended on the area over the weekend for the Flin Flon Minor Hockey Association’s Jason Morran Memorial Atom Tournament.
Eleven teams from across northern and central Manitoba competed at the A and AA levels, including the Flin Flon Northland Ford A Bombers and the Flin Flon Ped’s Threads AA Bombers.
Both Flin Flon teams played well, with the A Bombers finishing third on the A side, behind the first-place Gilliam Chargers and second-place Thompson King Miners.
The AA Bombers took bronze on the AA side, with the Swan Valley Stampeders earning gold and The Pas Huskies taking silver.
Also participating in the tournament were the Norway House AA North Stars, Thompson AA King Miners, OCN A Blizzard, Swan Valley A Stampeders and The Pas A Huskies.
Boys and girls, mostly ages 9 and 10, participated in the tournament, and while there was a spirit of competition throughout the weekend, there was also an atmosphere of friendship.
The Gilliam Chargers, for instance, were short five players. In a show of class, Flin Flon lent the Chargers those players to enable them to participate.
The tournament, held at the Whitney Forum and Creighton Sportex, is named in honour of Jason Morran, a local hockey dad and businessman who passed away in 2007.
The Flin Flon Northland Ford A Bombers consist of Bobby Smith; Ryan Lane; Shea McCullum; Asher McKay; Liam Grindle; Ryan Pedwell; Christopher Francoeur; Hendre Gouws; Brendan Madarash; Caleb Kinden; Troen Erickson; Embry Roberts; and Reid Slugoski. Coaches are Tim Smith, Kevin Pedwell and Dean Grindle.
The Flin Flon Ped’s Threads AA Bombers consist of Tye Burke; Tilden Custer; Gage Gogal; Jake Kuzmiak; Joey Lies; Ethan McLean; Paxton Moore; Ryder Mucha; Noel Pearson; Liv Playford; Evan Reid; Logan Salamondra; Connor Slugoski; Wyatt Stinton; and Tanner Werbicki. Coaches are Brett Pearson, Tyler Stinton and Mark Playford.
