This year’s edition of the maroon and white hit the ice once again starting this week.
The Bombers began their annual training camp Friday morning, with players registering for the camp at 10 a.m. at the Whitney Forum. From there, the group wias split into three groups and will take part in the squad’s now-traditional camp tournament, the Jonny Doogs Cup. Teams Blue, Yellow and Green each held a single team practice Friday before starting a round-robin tournament, with Blue playing Yellow Friday at 4:30 p.m., Blue staying on the ice to play Green immediately after at 6 p.m., then Green playing Yellow at 7:30 p.m.
A second set of round robin games will run starting Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by a tournament final Saturday night. The second and third place teams will play at 6 p.m., with a grand final for the trophy starting at 7:30 p.m.
Once the cup winner is decided, the Bombers’ traditional maroon and white intrasquad game will be played Sunday afternoon, with the puck dropping at 2 p.m.
The Bombers are scheduled to play five exhibition games once the team begins to take shape, facing La Ronge on the road Sept. 2 and at the Forum Sept. 6, then playing in Melfort against the Mustangs Sept. 9. From there, the Bombers will finish the preseason off with a pair of games against the newly renamed Northern Manitoba Blizzard of the MJHL, first Sept. 11 at The Pas’ Roy H. Johnston Arena and again in Flin Flon Sept. 13.
The regular season for the Bombers will begin at home this year, with a matchup against the Nipawin Hawks Sept. 20. From there, the Bombers will embark on a 56-game schedule, including 28 games at the Whitney Forum. The Bombers will attempt to get some modicum of revenge against Melfort Sept. 21, in a rematch of last year’s SJHL final. The Mustangs were able to beat a juggernaut Bombers team in six games to claim the title and extend Flin Flon’s championship drought to at least 31 years - during the Sept. 21 game, the Mustangs’ home opener, Melfort is expected to raise their championship banner from last season.
