News Archive
BOMBERS WIN!! CMCHL CHAMPIONS
Saturday,
April 16th saw the crowds piling into the Sportsplex Blue rink to
witness the crowning of the 2011 CMCHL Champions. The two contenders:
The CLA Hounds, #1 team in the league for the season sporting 80 point
phenom Tyler Martins; and The TWU Bombers, #2 team in the league for the
season boasting the top defense with the lowest goals against total,
led by top goalie and top rookie of the year Dan Gonzales. Past
championship games had sported almost exclusively orange-clad stands.
This year however, a strong showing of CLA fans split the rink almost
evenly. Not only would the Bombers be up against a high scoring
offensive competitor, they'd also be without the clear advantage in the
stands.
The game started quickly with the Hounds pressing hard. Their quick group of forwards kept the Bombers on their heels for a good portion of the third period, but the Bombers managed to find their chances coming into CLA's zone. However, the Bombers admittedly did not get nearly enough shots on the Hounds keeper. Despite having been an unstopable force for the previous two playoff games, it appeared the Bombers had met their match and were now on their heels against the leagues top team. They kept it even on the scoreboard though, and the period ended with no goals scored for either side. Coach Gareth Jones, not impressed with his teams intital performance, was absolutely animated on the bench. Clearly not willing to give up after such a long, hard fought season, his intensity seemed to rub off on the players, as the Bomber came out more focused and more determined. Though the period was still close, the Bombers managed to break the stalemate midway through the frame, as Chris "Cheech" Hirano picked up the rebound from a Braden Humphrey shot and backhand it past the CLA tender. Just like that momentum swung in favor of the orange and black, and the team seemed to pick up even more energy. They kept the Hounds at bay for the rest of the period, until with just seconds left in the frame a defensive breakdown led to a scramble in front of Bombers netminder Dan Gonzales, where the hounds put it home to end the period with a 1-1 tie. The Bombers locker room during the intermission was quiet to say the least. Some inspired words from Coach Jon McCauley seemed to reinvigorate the Bombers squad, and at the start of the third the grouped looked more like a Bombers team: determined, physical, and prepared to play the bump and grind, gritty style of hockey that got them this far. This was reflected in the increase in penalties in the third, as both teams battled hard for the most important goal of the year. Despite the energy in the building and the roar of the crowd, neither team was able to capitalize, sending the CMCHL Championship game into overtime! A better script couldn't have been written. The overtime period went back and fourth between the two clubs, with neither side willing to give an inch. There were a number of close calls, including a CLA rebound that rung off the cross bar behind Gonzales. However midway through the 4th period, "Cheech" jumped off the Bombers bench, apparently telling coach Gareth Jones "I got this". Just seconds later Cheech took the puck over the blue line and into the corner of the CLA zone. Fighting off a check, Cheech came behind the goal line and quickly darted to the frond of the net, stuffing home the Championship winning goal while getting rocked by a defender. The entire arena exploded as a sea of orange and black leapt from the bench and charged over to the pile forming around the victorious line already celebrating. In one of the most athletic feats of the night goaltender Gonzales made the 200ft charge across the rink to jump on the pile before many of his teammates who had a 100ft head start. After 2 years of dissapointing finishes the Bombers were once again on top of the world as the CMCHL Champions!
Thank you so much to all the Bombers fans who filled the arena that night, it was an amazing atmosphere to play in and especially to win in. Pictures of the game and Championship celebration can be found on the Bombers' Facebook page. Congratulations to all the Bombers who won the title for their third, second or even first time. Special congratulations to all the Senior Bombers graduating this year, way to win it on your last shot!
Although the season may be coming to a close, we will still be updating the site as there are rumors swirling of a Bombers Documentary in the making, as trailers have been released throughout the year for the film (Trailer #1, Trailer #2). TWUBombers.com will keep you posted on all the latest developments regarding the project.
The game started quickly with the Hounds pressing hard. Their quick group of forwards kept the Bombers on their heels for a good portion of the third period, but the Bombers managed to find their chances coming into CLA's zone. However, the Bombers admittedly did not get nearly enough shots on the Hounds keeper. Despite having been an unstopable force for the previous two playoff games, it appeared the Bombers had met their match and were now on their heels against the leagues top team. They kept it even on the scoreboard though, and the period ended with no goals scored for either side. Coach Gareth Jones, not impressed with his teams intital performance, was absolutely animated on the bench. Clearly not willing to give up after such a long, hard fought season, his intensity seemed to rub off on the players, as the Bomber came out more focused and more determined. Though the period was still close, the Bombers managed to break the stalemate midway through the frame, as Chris "Cheech" Hirano picked up the rebound from a Braden Humphrey shot and backhand it past the CLA tender. Just like that momentum swung in favor of the orange and black, and the team seemed to pick up even more energy. They kept the Hounds at bay for the rest of the period, until with just seconds left in the frame a defensive breakdown led to a scramble in front of Bombers netminder Dan Gonzales, where the hounds put it home to end the period with a 1-1 tie. The Bombers locker room during the intermission was quiet to say the least. Some inspired words from Coach Jon McCauley seemed to reinvigorate the Bombers squad, and at the start of the third the grouped looked more like a Bombers team: determined, physical, and prepared to play the bump and grind, gritty style of hockey that got them this far. This was reflected in the increase in penalties in the third, as both teams battled hard for the most important goal of the year. Despite the energy in the building and the roar of the crowd, neither team was able to capitalize, sending the CMCHL Championship game into overtime! A better script couldn't have been written. The overtime period went back and fourth between the two clubs, with neither side willing to give an inch. There were a number of close calls, including a CLA rebound that rung off the cross bar behind Gonzales. However midway through the 4th period, "Cheech" jumped off the Bombers bench, apparently telling coach Gareth Jones "I got this". Just seconds later Cheech took the puck over the blue line and into the corner of the CLA zone. Fighting off a check, Cheech came behind the goal line and quickly darted to the frond of the net, stuffing home the Championship winning goal while getting rocked by a defender. The entire arena exploded as a sea of orange and black leapt from the bench and charged over to the pile forming around the victorious line already celebrating. In one of the most athletic feats of the night goaltender Gonzales made the 200ft charge across the rink to jump on the pile before many of his teammates who had a 100ft head start. After 2 years of dissapointing finishes the Bombers were once again on top of the world as the CMCHL Champions!
Thank you so much to all the Bombers fans who filled the arena that night, it was an amazing atmosphere to play in and especially to win in. Pictures of the game and Championship celebration can be found on the Bombers' Facebook page. Congratulations to all the Bombers who won the title for their third, second or even first time. Special congratulations to all the Senior Bombers graduating this year, way to win it on your last shot!
Although the season may be coming to a close, we will still be updating the site as there are rumors swirling of a Bombers Documentary in the making, as trailers have been released throughout the year for the film (Trailer #1, Trailer #2). TWUBombers.com will keep you posted on all the latest developments regarding the project.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TIME ANNOUNCED
The CMCHL Finals have been officially announced as being at 8:00 PM APRIL 16th @ SPORTSPLEX ARENA. The link to the CMCHL website for all your finals information can be found here.
A reminder, please come EARLY to the game! It will likely be a packed house just from the fans brought by Trinity Western, but CLA will likely have a large fan turnout as well. Since Sportsplex has very limited seating, its unlikely that anyone who shows up after 7:45 PM will be able to find a spot in the stands.
Thank you all for your support this season, without you guys we're just rec hockey. We're all excited for the game already, even if its a week away. The atmosphere is going to be absolutely electric on Saturday, and we're planning on putting on a show for all the fans. See you Saturday, Bombers Cup Run 2011!
A reminder, please come EARLY to the game! It will likely be a packed house just from the fans brought by Trinity Western, but CLA will likely have a large fan turnout as well. Since Sportsplex has very limited seating, its unlikely that anyone who shows up after 7:45 PM will be able to find a spot in the stands.
Thank you all for your support this season, without you guys we're just rec hockey. We're all excited for the game already, even if its a week away. The atmosphere is going to be absolutely electric on Saturday, and we're planning on putting on a show for all the fans. See you Saturday, Bombers Cup Run 2011!
BOMBERS IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
April 10, 2011
On Saturday April 9 the TWU Bombers took to the ice for the CMCHL Playoff semifinal game in front of a packed Sportsplex arena. The Bombers were going up against their toughest opponent in what was undoubtedly the hardest game of the year, the Uptown Mayhem. The Mayhem were the defending CMCHL champions, as well as the team that eliminated the Bombers from last years playoffs in, ironically, the semifinal game. The Bombers had a the perfect opportunity for redemption Saturday night, in a game that most players had been dying to play for 365 days.
The Bombers came out flying, but the Mayhem were equal to the task, and both teams traded opportunities back and forth for most of the first period. There were chances on each side, including a open net for the Mayhem that was narrowly missed. It looked like the frame would end on even ground, but with three minutes remaining a Chris Hirano shot was scooped up and put home by Pieter Rossouw. The Bombers were elated and ran with the momentum for the rest of the period. The second started much like the first ended, with the Bombers pushing hard for that second goal. Their break came just four minutes in as Pat Kelly put home a beautiful shot against the Mayhem goalie. The second saw some rough physical play and several powerplay opportunities for each team, but the score remained 2-0. With just minutes left, however, the Mayhem caught a break, as a wide shot took a bad bounce off a skate at the side of the net and bounced in. The period finished 2-1 as both teams took a break for the ice clean. During the intermission some controversy took place, as one of the referees left the game, apparently in relation to some roster changes attempting to be made by the Mayhem to replace one of their players injured during the game. League commissioner Nathan Sather stepped in as a replacement, even without the opportunity to grab a helmet. The Bombers came out blazing in the third, absolutely determined not to give up the lead they'd worked so hard for. Hard fought battles for the puck continued for the entirety of the 20 minute period, with both teams getting their licks in while scoring opportunities were exchanged back and forth. As time was winding down the Bombers could smell victory, but the Mayhem were clamoring for the tying marker. With just a few minutes left Uptown went on an all out attack, but when they were turned away at the blueline with thirty seconds left, Chris "Cheech" Hirano made a charge a the Mayhem net, and while literally carrying a defender on his back, Cheech dove and shot in mid-air, superman style, shooting the puck low glove side. Bombers tender Dan Gonzales was quoted as saying after the game he had "never seen someone score a goal while not touching the ice". Despite an empty net the Mayhem couldn't generate any more offense in the last seconds of the game, and the Bombers exploded off the bench when the buzzer sounded, claiming victory 3-1.
The Bombers are now in the CMCHL Finals for the sixth time in seven years, and will be looking for their fourth title in those same seven seasons. They will be up against the CLA Hounds, the number one team in the regular season, who reached the finals earlier in the night after some overtime heroics in a close bout with the TWU Alumni Renegades. The time has yet to be determined, but mark off your calendars for SATURDAY APRIL 16th @ SPORTSPLEX ARENA. Updates will follow regarding a specific game time.
Thanks again for the amazing fan support! For next weeks game be sure to get there early, as CLA is likely to bring out a large number of fans as well, and seating will be at a premium.
On Saturday April 9 the TWU Bombers took to the ice for the CMCHL Playoff semifinal game in front of a packed Sportsplex arena. The Bombers were going up against their toughest opponent in what was undoubtedly the hardest game of the year, the Uptown Mayhem. The Mayhem were the defending CMCHL champions, as well as the team that eliminated the Bombers from last years playoffs in, ironically, the semifinal game. The Bombers had a the perfect opportunity for redemption Saturday night, in a game that most players had been dying to play for 365 days.
The Bombers came out flying, but the Mayhem were equal to the task, and both teams traded opportunities back and forth for most of the first period. There were chances on each side, including a open net for the Mayhem that was narrowly missed. It looked like the frame would end on even ground, but with three minutes remaining a Chris Hirano shot was scooped up and put home by Pieter Rossouw. The Bombers were elated and ran with the momentum for the rest of the period. The second started much like the first ended, with the Bombers pushing hard for that second goal. Their break came just four minutes in as Pat Kelly put home a beautiful shot against the Mayhem goalie. The second saw some rough physical play and several powerplay opportunities for each team, but the score remained 2-0. With just minutes left, however, the Mayhem caught a break, as a wide shot took a bad bounce off a skate at the side of the net and bounced in. The period finished 2-1 as both teams took a break for the ice clean. During the intermission some controversy took place, as one of the referees left the game, apparently in relation to some roster changes attempting to be made by the Mayhem to replace one of their players injured during the game. League commissioner Nathan Sather stepped in as a replacement, even without the opportunity to grab a helmet. The Bombers came out blazing in the third, absolutely determined not to give up the lead they'd worked so hard for. Hard fought battles for the puck continued for the entirety of the 20 minute period, with both teams getting their licks in while scoring opportunities were exchanged back and forth. As time was winding down the Bombers could smell victory, but the Mayhem were clamoring for the tying marker. With just a few minutes left Uptown went on an all out attack, but when they were turned away at the blueline with thirty seconds left, Chris "Cheech" Hirano made a charge a the Mayhem net, and while literally carrying a defender on his back, Cheech dove and shot in mid-air, superman style, shooting the puck low glove side. Bombers tender Dan Gonzales was quoted as saying after the game he had "never seen someone score a goal while not touching the ice". Despite an empty net the Mayhem couldn't generate any more offense in the last seconds of the game, and the Bombers exploded off the bench when the buzzer sounded, claiming victory 3-1.
The Bombers are now in the CMCHL Finals for the sixth time in seven years, and will be looking for their fourth title in those same seven seasons. They will be up against the CLA Hounds, the number one team in the regular season, who reached the finals earlier in the night after some overtime heroics in a close bout with the TWU Alumni Renegades. The time has yet to be determined, but mark off your calendars for SATURDAY APRIL 16th @ SPORTSPLEX ARENA. Updates will follow regarding a specific game time.
Thanks again for the amazing fan support! For next weeks game be sure to get there early, as CLA is likely to bring out a large number of fans as well, and seating will be at a premium.
ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO
April 3, 2011
Last Saturday the TWU Bombers took to the ice for their first playoff game in 2011. Although it was only the quarter finals, the Bombers were thrown to the wolves early, getting matched up against the Willingdon Avalanche. While the Avalanche only placed seventh during the season, they were privy to the deadliest scorer in the CMCHL Adam Torris, who had 102 points in 24 games (almost as many as every player on the TWU Bombers combined [105]!). The Bombers had to focus on a defense first strategy while capitalizing on any offensive opportunities they were presented with.
The game started out quickly with both teams going 100% out of the gate. A couple quick breaks by the Avalanche top line made the reality of the skill the Bombers were facing that much more real. The Bombers kept pace however, and their hard work was rewarded when Braden Humphrey finished a passing play by chipping a short shot past the Avalanche netminder to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead. They maintained that lead into the second period, and despite multiple rushes by the opposition kept the momentum.
The Second period started right where the first left off, and Willingdon came out with some slick passing plays in the Bombers end, only to be shut down by CMCHL Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year Dan Gonzales. With the support from Gonzales in net, the Bombers worked on maintaining constant pressure. Near the end of the second a cycle in the Avalanche end saw the puck sent to Joel Robertson, who put a rocket on net that found it's way into the net thanks to a timely tip from Chris "Cheech" Hirano. The Bombers finished the second period with a 2-0 lead.
As the third started however, it was clear that Willingdon was not giving up on their playoff hopes. They came out fast and furious, putting the Bombers on their heels for the first part of the period. With seven minutes left in the frame the Avalanche finally got one, a quick rush up the ice and perfectly placed shot by Stef Tassone brought Willingdon within one. The Avalanche immediately took a time out, however it appeared that the Bombers made the most of the break to collect themselves, as from that point on the game was dominated by the boys in black and orange. Just a few minutes later Curtis Dueck picked up a Jordan Dale shot from between a defenders legs and popped it top right hand corner to give the Bombers a two goal lead again. With only 3 minutes left on the clock "Cheech" rushed the puck up the ice and went hard on net, where the rebound was picked up by Braden Humphrey for his second on the night to clinch it for the Bombers. Trinity took their first playoff game in 2011 by a score of 4-1.
Thanks to all the fans who came out and supported the team, the atmosphere was electric in the rink through the whole game. The Bombers opponents in the semi-finals are none other than the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season, the Uptown Mayhem. The rivalry is sure to heat up again, as the teams meet next Saturday, April 9th at 10:00pm @ Sportsplex Arena. See you there!
*For all of your CMCHL Playoff updates, visit the official CMCHL playoff webpage here.
Last Saturday the TWU Bombers took to the ice for their first playoff game in 2011. Although it was only the quarter finals, the Bombers were thrown to the wolves early, getting matched up against the Willingdon Avalanche. While the Avalanche only placed seventh during the season, they were privy to the deadliest scorer in the CMCHL Adam Torris, who had 102 points in 24 games (almost as many as every player on the TWU Bombers combined [105]!). The Bombers had to focus on a defense first strategy while capitalizing on any offensive opportunities they were presented with.
The game started out quickly with both teams going 100% out of the gate. A couple quick breaks by the Avalanche top line made the reality of the skill the Bombers were facing that much more real. The Bombers kept pace however, and their hard work was rewarded when Braden Humphrey finished a passing play by chipping a short shot past the Avalanche netminder to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead. They maintained that lead into the second period, and despite multiple rushes by the opposition kept the momentum.
The Second period started right where the first left off, and Willingdon came out with some slick passing plays in the Bombers end, only to be shut down by CMCHL Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year Dan Gonzales. With the support from Gonzales in net, the Bombers worked on maintaining constant pressure. Near the end of the second a cycle in the Avalanche end saw the puck sent to Joel Robertson, who put a rocket on net that found it's way into the net thanks to a timely tip from Chris "Cheech" Hirano. The Bombers finished the second period with a 2-0 lead.
As the third started however, it was clear that Willingdon was not giving up on their playoff hopes. They came out fast and furious, putting the Bombers on their heels for the first part of the period. With seven minutes left in the frame the Avalanche finally got one, a quick rush up the ice and perfectly placed shot by Stef Tassone brought Willingdon within one. The Avalanche immediately took a time out, however it appeared that the Bombers made the most of the break to collect themselves, as from that point on the game was dominated by the boys in black and orange. Just a few minutes later Curtis Dueck picked up a Jordan Dale shot from between a defenders legs and popped it top right hand corner to give the Bombers a two goal lead again. With only 3 minutes left on the clock "Cheech" rushed the puck up the ice and went hard on net, where the rebound was picked up by Braden Humphrey for his second on the night to clinch it for the Bombers. Trinity took their first playoff game in 2011 by a score of 4-1.
Thanks to all the fans who came out and supported the team, the atmosphere was electric in the rink through the whole game. The Bombers opponents in the semi-finals are none other than the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season, the Uptown Mayhem. The rivalry is sure to heat up again, as the teams meet next Saturday, April 9th at 10:00pm @ Sportsplex Arena. See you there!
*For all of your CMCHL Playoff updates, visit the official CMCHL playoff webpage here.
PLAYOFF BOUND!!!!
March 28, 2011
After months of hard work, the TWU Bombers with a record of 16-7-1 finished the regular season in second place. This means the Bombers have qualified for the playoffs, looking for their fourth CMCHL Championship!! The first round match up will be against the Willingdon Avalanche. The Avalanche possess one of the deadliest scorers in the entire league, Adam Torris, who had 50 goals and 52 assists in 24 games this season. The game takes place THIS SATURDAY APRIL 2nd, 9:15 PM @ Sportsplex Arena. Make sure to come out and support the boys in Orange and Black as they embark on their quest for hockey glory this spring!!
After months of hard work, the TWU Bombers with a record of 16-7-1 finished the regular season in second place. This means the Bombers have qualified for the playoffs, looking for their fourth CMCHL Championship!! The first round match up will be against the Willingdon Avalanche. The Avalanche possess one of the deadliest scorers in the entire league, Adam Torris, who had 50 goals and 52 assists in 24 games this season. The game takes place THIS SATURDAY APRIL 2nd, 9:15 PM @ Sportsplex Arena. Make sure to come out and support the boys in Orange and Black as they embark on their quest for hockey glory this spring!!
UPDATE: BOMBERS CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT
March 8, 2011
The CMCHL has just come out with its updated standings including last weekends games. With the win over the CAC Warriors the TWU Bombers are guaranteed a spot in the 2011 CMCHL playoffs. The Bombers currently sit in 4th place overall, also giving them the 4th playoff seed. The Bombers are currently in a tight race with 46 points, sitting between The Orangemen with 47 points and the Uptown Mayhem with 45 points. The CLA Hounds have 1st with 55 points, and all four teams have assured playoff positions with three games remaining. For the full standings visit the CMCHL website.
The CMCHL has just come out with its updated standings including last weekends games. With the win over the CAC Warriors the TWU Bombers are guaranteed a spot in the 2011 CMCHL playoffs. The Bombers currently sit in 4th place overall, also giving them the 4th playoff seed. The Bombers are currently in a tight race with 46 points, sitting between The Orangemen with 47 points and the Uptown Mayhem with 45 points. The CLA Hounds have 1st with 55 points, and all four teams have assured playoff positions with three games remaining. For the full standings visit the CMCHL website.
BOMBERS BACK IN THE FIGHT, GET BIG WIN vs CAC WARRIORS
March 5, 2011
After loosing 3 straight games for the second time this season, the TWU Bombers needed a win in a bad way this weekend. That wasn't going to be an easy task however, as the fifth place CAC Warriors presented some offensive threats the Bombers would have to keep in check the entire game if they didn't want to get burned.
The Bombers didn't waste much time, coming out hard in the first period and looking better than they had in a month. Only two and a half minutes in, and the Bombers netted their first goal as Matt Paivinen took a pass from Curtis Dueck behind the net and scored from the high slot. The Warriors got back in the game however just over a minute later on a nifty passing play to tie up the game. It was a back and forth battle the rest of the period, but with five minutes left Paivinen left a drop pass for Dueck on the left wing, who put the puck top corner and the Bombers back on top. Seconds later Matt Hayes finished off a play deep in CAC territory to take the Bombers lead to two goals. CAC again responded, and a rocket from the top of the circles brought them back within one. The Bombers finished the period with momentum however as Hayes picked up a rebound for his second goal of the game, making the score 4-2.
The second period started even quicker than the first. Thirty seconds in and a sweet passing play between Braden Humphrey and Ryan Loewen found its way to Chris Hirano who potted his 13th goal on the season, and with his parents in attendance all the way from California no less. The second period saw far less scoring than the first, replaced by a back and forth game with a lot of little battles for the puck. Coach Jon McCauley was quoted as saying the Bombers looked "timid" during this part of the game, and wanted his team to go at the opponent's skilled players more directly instead of letting them make the first move. By the end of the second the Bombers started to click again, as Pieter Roussow deflected a Jordan Dale shot from the point into the top corner blocker side to give the Bombers the momentum once again. They weren't done in the second however, as with less than thirty seconds left "Cheech" Hirano came from behind the net and put the puck out front, which was scooped up by Loewen, who made a sweet no-look-behind-the-back pass to Humphrey across the net, who netted his team leading 27th point.
As great as the second ended, the third period didn't start how the Bombers would have liked. A quick goal from CAC seemed to put life back in their team, but the Bombers answered back as Patrick Kelly scored from the low slot. The Warriors never quit in the period, and scored again with five minutes left, but the Bombers came back again as Ben Vanderpol capitalized on a loose puck during a scramble at the Warriors net, and capped off the Bombers triumphant return to the win column, final score 9-4.
The Bombers played a great game offensively, but defensively the Bombers coaches expected more from both the forwards and defensemen. The team will look to correct their mistakes before their next game against the Willingdon Avalanche, Saturday March 12th 9:15 PM at Sportsplex Arena. Ryan Loewen was awarded the "Chain" by his Bombers teammates, while Chris "Cheech" Hirano was awarded "Player of the Game" by the Warriors. The Bombers sit third in the overall standings, but with the eighth place Abbotsford Wolfpack only 8 points behind, it will be a battle for playoff positioning for the final three games of the season. Special thanks to all the fans who showed up for an 11:30pm game, you guys rock.
After loosing 3 straight games for the second time this season, the TWU Bombers needed a win in a bad way this weekend. That wasn't going to be an easy task however, as the fifth place CAC Warriors presented some offensive threats the Bombers would have to keep in check the entire game if they didn't want to get burned.
The Bombers didn't waste much time, coming out hard in the first period and looking better than they had in a month. Only two and a half minutes in, and the Bombers netted their first goal as Matt Paivinen took a pass from Curtis Dueck behind the net and scored from the high slot. The Warriors got back in the game however just over a minute later on a nifty passing play to tie up the game. It was a back and forth battle the rest of the period, but with five minutes left Paivinen left a drop pass for Dueck on the left wing, who put the puck top corner and the Bombers back on top. Seconds later Matt Hayes finished off a play deep in CAC territory to take the Bombers lead to two goals. CAC again responded, and a rocket from the top of the circles brought them back within one. The Bombers finished the period with momentum however as Hayes picked up a rebound for his second goal of the game, making the score 4-2.
The second period started even quicker than the first. Thirty seconds in and a sweet passing play between Braden Humphrey and Ryan Loewen found its way to Chris Hirano who potted his 13th goal on the season, and with his parents in attendance all the way from California no less. The second period saw far less scoring than the first, replaced by a back and forth game with a lot of little battles for the puck. Coach Jon McCauley was quoted as saying the Bombers looked "timid" during this part of the game, and wanted his team to go at the opponent's skilled players more directly instead of letting them make the first move. By the end of the second the Bombers started to click again, as Pieter Roussow deflected a Jordan Dale shot from the point into the top corner blocker side to give the Bombers the momentum once again. They weren't done in the second however, as with less than thirty seconds left "Cheech" Hirano came from behind the net and put the puck out front, which was scooped up by Loewen, who made a sweet no-look-behind-the-back pass to Humphrey across the net, who netted his team leading 27th point.
As great as the second ended, the third period didn't start how the Bombers would have liked. A quick goal from CAC seemed to put life back in their team, but the Bombers answered back as Patrick Kelly scored from the low slot. The Warriors never quit in the period, and scored again with five minutes left, but the Bombers came back again as Ben Vanderpol capitalized on a loose puck during a scramble at the Warriors net, and capped off the Bombers triumphant return to the win column, final score 9-4.
The Bombers played a great game offensively, but defensively the Bombers coaches expected more from both the forwards and defensemen. The team will look to correct their mistakes before their next game against the Willingdon Avalanche, Saturday March 12th 9:15 PM at Sportsplex Arena. Ryan Loewen was awarded the "Chain" by his Bombers teammates, while Chris "Cheech" Hirano was awarded "Player of the Game" by the Warriors. The Bombers sit third in the overall standings, but with the eighth place Abbotsford Wolfpack only 8 points behind, it will be a battle for playoff positioning for the final three games of the season. Special thanks to all the fans who showed up for an 11:30pm game, you guys rock.
BOMBERS DROP 2ND STRAIGHT
This
last week the Bombers had a very successful 3rd annual Skate With the
Bombers, thanks again to everyone who came out! The Saturday afterward
the Bombers were looking to ride the high off SWTB and come out strong
against the toughest team in the league, the Orangemen. At 16-2 the
Orangemen were clearly in a class of their own in the CMCHL, yet the
Bombers had managed to beat them once before. A repeat performance
would be necessary if the Bombers wanted to walk away with the win.
The first period was hard fought on both sides, with the Bombers looking sharp and keeping up with the most dominant team in the league. The first speedbump of the night for the team came in the form of a penalty to Matt Paivinen, who's stick caught an Orangemen defenseman high, drawing blood and warranting a 5 minute major penalty and automatic game misconduct. A baffled Paivinen was forced to leave the ice, while his equally stunned teammates collected themselves and ended the period on even ground with their opponents on the scoreboard. The second period began where the first ended off, with both teams clashing but neither coming away with the advantage. However, on the end of a Bombers powerplay midway through the frame defenseman Joel Robertson shot a rocket from the blueline into the top corner of the Orangemen's net, giving the Bombers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the Bombers' success on the night. Two minutes later the Orangemen slid home their first, then two minutes later knocked in another pair to end the frame 3-1 ahead of Trinity. In the third period bad breaks bewildered the Bombers, who saw wild stabs at the puck, Orangemen sliding on their backs, and pucks that stopped in the crease somehow leading to goals. The final score was Orangemen 6, Bombers 1.
The Bombers will not have it any easier this week, as they face #1 team in the standings, the CLA Hounds. The Bombers are going to need to come out strong in order to stop the bleeding and get back to their winning ways. The hopeful turnaround will be happening February 18 10:45pm, at the George Preston Rec Center and Arena.
The first period was hard fought on both sides, with the Bombers looking sharp and keeping up with the most dominant team in the league. The first speedbump of the night for the team came in the form of a penalty to Matt Paivinen, who's stick caught an Orangemen defenseman high, drawing blood and warranting a 5 minute major penalty and automatic game misconduct. A baffled Paivinen was forced to leave the ice, while his equally stunned teammates collected themselves and ended the period on even ground with their opponents on the scoreboard. The second period began where the first ended off, with both teams clashing but neither coming away with the advantage. However, on the end of a Bombers powerplay midway through the frame defenseman Joel Robertson shot a rocket from the blueline into the top corner of the Orangemen's net, giving the Bombers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the Bombers' success on the night. Two minutes later the Orangemen slid home their first, then two minutes later knocked in another pair to end the frame 3-1 ahead of Trinity. In the third period bad breaks bewildered the Bombers, who saw wild stabs at the puck, Orangemen sliding on their backs, and pucks that stopped in the crease somehow leading to goals. The final score was Orangemen 6, Bombers 1.
The Bombers will not have it any easier this week, as they face #1 team in the standings, the CLA Hounds. The Bombers are going to need to come out strong in order to stop the bleeding and get back to their winning ways. The hopeful turnaround will be happening February 18 10:45pm, at the George Preston Rec Center and Arena.
SWTB: Skate With The Bombers Third Annual Event Coming!!
BIG NEWS BOMBERS FANS!! It's that time of year again, Skate with the Bombers is coming to Langley Sportsplex on Thursday, February 10th @ 11:00 pm.
As always, admission is free, and skate rentals are $5 cash, but you
can bring your own as well. Come hang out with the Bombers players,
take you're picture in Bombers swag, shoot on all-star goalie Dan
Gonzales, and get a chance to win great prizes just by showing up! Best
of all, the Bombers are offering a historic opportunity to one lucky
fan at SWTB: the chance to win A ROSTER SPOT on the TWU BOMBERS!!
That's right, for one game a Bombers fan will get the chance to play
with the Black and Orange in an official CMCHL game! Have you ever
wanted to play professional hockey? Well, this is pretty close! Make
sure to drop by the Bombers table and sign up for your chance to win at
Skate with the Bombers!
Need an idea for a dorm date? How about Skate with the Bombers? Want to try out for CanAm hockey? Come out to Skate with the Bombers!! Can you skate? Great! Don't know how? Even better!! Last year over 300 people turned out for SWTB, and this year one of them will BECOME A BOMBER! It could be you!
Need an idea for a dorm date? How about Skate with the Bombers? Want to try out for CanAm hockey? Come out to Skate with the Bombers!! Can you skate? Great! Don't know how? Even better!! Last year over 300 people turned out for SWTB, and this year one of them will BECOME A BOMBER! It could be you!
BOMBERS FALL TO RENEGADES
One
week after playing one of their best games of the season in a chippy
contest against the North Delta Knights, the Bombers were looking to
gain a victory over one of their tougher competitors from the first half
of the season, the Trinity Western Alumni Renegades. The Bombers drew
to a 2-2 tie the last time they faced off against the Renegades.
The Bombers started the game where they left off against the Knights, fighting hard for the puck and skating hard. The Renegades proved to be more of a challenge however, pushing back just as hard and forcing the Bombers to work for every inch. Most of the first period was a stalemate, however the Bombers struck with 5 minutes left as a scramble in front saw the puck bounce to Chris Hirano who netter the opening goal of the game. The lead didn't last long, however, as the Renegades answered back two minutes later to end the first with a 1-1 score. The Bombers started the second period out with a bang, as Corey Stroeder rushed the puck off the opening faceoff and gave it to Pat Kelly, who scored just 9 seconds into the frame. The Bombers tried to keep the Renegades at bay for the rest of the period, but to no avail as the 'Gades slipped two pucks into the Bombers net within 2 minutes, giving them a 3-2 lead going into the third. The Bombers did everything possible to try and eek out that tying goal, getting more chances in the third than either of the first two periods, but were unable to materialize any chances going into the final minute. With some slick line maneuvering the Bombers coaches got them a 6-on-5 in the Renegades end, but despite the scrambles and open nets the Bombers were unable to capitalize, and their two game win streak came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Renegades.
Despite the loss the Bomber remain one of the top teams in the league, still in a battle for first place with the CLA Hounds. The Bombers will have a stiff test next weekend as they face the dominant Orangemen at 8:00 Saturday Feb. 12.
Don't forget, Thursday Feb. 10 @ 11:00, it's SKATE WITH THE BOMBERS! Come out for a TWU exclusive public skate with your favorite black and orange Trinity Western hockey team, free admission, snacks, prizes, and only $5 skate rentals. Best of all enter yourself to win the chance to play in a real CMCHL hockey game with the TWU Bombers! Skate with the Bombers is always a good time, so whether you're a diehard fan or don't know who the Bombers are, come out for an awesome night at the rink.
The Bombers started the game where they left off against the Knights, fighting hard for the puck and skating hard. The Renegades proved to be more of a challenge however, pushing back just as hard and forcing the Bombers to work for every inch. Most of the first period was a stalemate, however the Bombers struck with 5 minutes left as a scramble in front saw the puck bounce to Chris Hirano who netter the opening goal of the game. The lead didn't last long, however, as the Renegades answered back two minutes later to end the first with a 1-1 score. The Bombers started the second period out with a bang, as Corey Stroeder rushed the puck off the opening faceoff and gave it to Pat Kelly, who scored just 9 seconds into the frame. The Bombers tried to keep the Renegades at bay for the rest of the period, but to no avail as the 'Gades slipped two pucks into the Bombers net within 2 minutes, giving them a 3-2 lead going into the third. The Bombers did everything possible to try and eek out that tying goal, getting more chances in the third than either of the first two periods, but were unable to materialize any chances going into the final minute. With some slick line maneuvering the Bombers coaches got them a 6-on-5 in the Renegades end, but despite the scrambles and open nets the Bombers were unable to capitalize, and their two game win streak came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Renegades.
Despite the loss the Bomber remain one of the top teams in the league, still in a battle for first place with the CLA Hounds. The Bombers will have a stiff test next weekend as they face the dominant Orangemen at 8:00 Saturday Feb. 12.
Don't forget, Thursday Feb. 10 @ 11:00, it's SKATE WITH THE BOMBERS! Come out for a TWU exclusive public skate with your favorite black and orange Trinity Western hockey team, free admission, snacks, prizes, and only $5 skate rentals. Best of all enter yourself to win the chance to play in a real CMCHL hockey game with the TWU Bombers! Skate with the Bombers is always a good time, so whether you're a diehard fan or don't know who the Bombers are, come out for an awesome night at the rink.
TRINITY BEATS COUGARS, LOSING STREAK CONTINUES?
It
had been a long Christmas break for the TWU Bombers in 2011. After
losing the last game before the brake to the Coastal Saints, then
dropping the first game back against the Uptown Mayhem, the Bombers were
looking to get the monkey off their back following their most recent
loss, a closely contested battle with the TLC Mustangs and their third
loss in a row. With Braden Jones making his long awaited return to the
team after the break, and an almost full bench for one of the first
times this season, the Bombers were looking to get their first win to
finally welcome Jones back to the ice in Bombers fashion.
The Bombers put the pressure on early, but despite their low ranking the KCC Cougars were pushing back with equal force for the majority of the first period. The neck and neck battle continued until late in the period when returning Bomber alumni Patrick "PK" Kelly finished a passing play from Joel Robertson and Reimo Paivinen and put the Bombers up 1-0 at the end of the first. The Bombers great play started to wane in the second and KCC managed to pick up some momentum. The Bombers were on their heels until a great individual effort by Braden Humphrey put the puck past the Cougars keeper. Humphrey wasn't done however, and on the same shift put himself in front of the goalie and deflected a Ryan Loewen slapshot from the point to give the Bombers a 3-0 lead. The Cougars got themselves into some penalty trouble, but when the Bombers were unable to capitalize it seemed to spark their opponents, and a late period rush saw Cougars' Andrew Schumacher pop the puck in the Bombers goal, ruining Dan Gonzales' otherwise flawless performance on the night. The Bombers started the third with an obvious jump in their step, eager to close out a win for the first time in almost two months. Off the opening faceoff scoring sensations Chris "Cheech" Hirano and Braden Humphrey connected for one of the prettier goals of the game. It was all Bombers the rest of the way, as more penalty trouble followed KCC, and a snipe by defenceman Jordan Dale sealed the deal as the Bombers went on to break their three game skid, winning 5-1.
As the on ice celebrations moved to the dressing room, however, the Bombers got a major reality check. Upon reaching their room players soon realized that the padlock on the door had been destroyed, and a quick survey of personal effects lead the team to find that nearly every one of their wallets had been taken. Needless to say this put somewhat of a damper on the night, and what should have been a celebration of success turned into a conference call with players financial service providers. Both the TWU Bombers and Sportsplex Arena were reported to have been cooperating with police after the game, hopefully resulting in the culprits being apprehended in the near future. If you have ANY INFORMATION regarding this incident, such as observing a suspicious individual leaving the arena, you are encouraged to contact Trinity Western University or local law enforcement.
Thank you to all the fans who came out for what is hoped to be a turning point for the Bombers for the rest of the season, there was a great turnout of passionate Trinity fans. As always, you make what we do worthwhile, thank you! The next game is SATURDAY JAN. 29 @ 9:45 vs the North Delta Knights. The game will be played at Sportsplex Arena. We look forward to seeing you there!!!
UPDATE
The Bombers put the pressure on early, but despite their low ranking the KCC Cougars were pushing back with equal force for the majority of the first period. The neck and neck battle continued until late in the period when returning Bomber alumni Patrick "PK" Kelly finished a passing play from Joel Robertson and Reimo Paivinen and put the Bombers up 1-0 at the end of the first. The Bombers great play started to wane in the second and KCC managed to pick up some momentum. The Bombers were on their heels until a great individual effort by Braden Humphrey put the puck past the Cougars keeper. Humphrey wasn't done however, and on the same shift put himself in front of the goalie and deflected a Ryan Loewen slapshot from the point to give the Bombers a 3-0 lead. The Cougars got themselves into some penalty trouble, but when the Bombers were unable to capitalize it seemed to spark their opponents, and a late period rush saw Cougars' Andrew Schumacher pop the puck in the Bombers goal, ruining Dan Gonzales' otherwise flawless performance on the night. The Bombers started the third with an obvious jump in their step, eager to close out a win for the first time in almost two months. Off the opening faceoff scoring sensations Chris "Cheech" Hirano and Braden Humphrey connected for one of the prettier goals of the game. It was all Bombers the rest of the way, as more penalty trouble followed KCC, and a snipe by defenceman Jordan Dale sealed the deal as the Bombers went on to break their three game skid, winning 5-1.
As the on ice celebrations moved to the dressing room, however, the Bombers got a major reality check. Upon reaching their room players soon realized that the padlock on the door had been destroyed, and a quick survey of personal effects lead the team to find that nearly every one of their wallets had been taken. Needless to say this put somewhat of a damper on the night, and what should have been a celebration of success turned into a conference call with players financial service providers. Both the TWU Bombers and Sportsplex Arena were reported to have been cooperating with police after the game, hopefully resulting in the culprits being apprehended in the near future. If you have ANY INFORMATION regarding this incident, such as observing a suspicious individual leaving the arena, you are encouraged to contact Trinity Western University or local law enforcement.
Thank you to all the fans who came out for what is hoped to be a turning point for the Bombers for the rest of the season, there was a great turnout of passionate Trinity fans. As always, you make what we do worthwhile, thank you! The next game is SATURDAY JAN. 29 @ 9:45 vs the North Delta Knights. The game will be played at Sportsplex Arena. We look forward to seeing you there!!!
UPDATE
Burnaby
Police have located the wallets of many of the TWU Bombers players! No
word yet as to the situation in which they were found, nor if they have
any suspects. More updates will come as information is available, but
thank you so much to Burnaby and Langley police for their great work.
BOMBERS SOLIDIFY 1ST PLACE, END ORANGEMEN'S PERFECT SEASON
The
entire 2010-2011 Bombers season to this point, the highs, the lows,
everything was leading up to this weekends game. The TWU Bombers, 1st
place in the CMCHL, lowest goals against in the league, and one of the
most team-focused clubs took on the undefeated, star-studded, highest
goal scoring team in the league, The Orangemen. The first half of the
season had proven these teams to be the top two in the league, and
Saturday night's clash of titans would determine the #1 team going into
the Christmas break.
The Bombers were focused and prepared for the game, and wanted to get off to a great start in order to take the momentum against a dangerous team. Unfortunately they got off to a rough start, even before the first puck drop. During the warm up defenceman Ben Vanderpol and goaltender Dan Gonzales were both injured. Vanderpol was forced to leave the game, while Gonzales was able to start. More on this at the end of the article.
Despite the rough pregame skate for the Bombers, they were able to refocus and started the game on even terms with the Orangemen. There was back and forth action as the teams battled for dominance. It was at the 12:19 mark of the first period that the stalemate was broken, as Chris Hirano took a feed from behind the net and chipped the puck top corner for the 1-0 Bombers lead. This was a huge boost for the Bombers, as it marked the first time in the entire season that the Orangemen had been losing at any point in a game. The Bombers kept the momentum and continued to work, eventually working the puck around in the offensive end and putting home a second marker, courtesy of Reimo Paivinen. The Orangemen managed to strike back less than a minute later with some shifty moves and dekes, but not to be outdone the "Soccer Boys" line finished the period off on a positive for the Bombers with another great passing play. This time it was Matt Paivinen finishing off the play and the period, giving the Bombers a 3-1 lead and putting them in a position no other team had been in for the entire season: ahead of the Orangemen on the score board. The second period saw the Orangmen come out obviously hungry to dig themselves out of their 2-goal hole. They struck two minutes into the period using speed and slick moves to get around Bombers left and right to end up getting another past Gonzales. Despite the lack of scoring over most of the period there were plenty of plays to make the period exciting, and at times frustrating. As the play progressed it was evident to players and fans that there were a surprising lack of penalties being called, despite the extra-physical play that was going on. Several open ice hits and obvious hold had the fans up in arms, but Coaches Jon McCauley and Gareth Jones did their best to keep the players on the bench composed and focused on the game. Despite being battered and bruised by their opponents, the Bombers continued to push the pace, and with a little over a minute left in the period Bombers pressure at the Orangemen net saw the puck come once again to Hirano who scored for the second time on the night and gave the Bombers a 4-2 lead after two periods. The rough play was upstaged only by several brilliant acrobatic saves by Gonzales intermittently throughout the frame to keep his team in the lead. With 15 minutes to go before the Bombers made history, the tone on the bench during the intermission was one of tension and excitement. The message from the coaches was don't let up, keep doing what you're doing and you'll pull this one out. The Bombers took the message to heart and came out flying in the third. The high pace action, matched with some frustration on the side of the Orangemen gave the Bombers a powerplay early in the period, and they took full advantage. A clean face-off win went to defenceman Curtis Hart who fake-shot to slap-pass went across the blueline to Jordan Dale, who fired a missile into the top corner of the net. The Orangemen continued to press however, and despite their rough play still had no penalties called. This lead to a confrontation as forward Matt Paivinen was dumped head first into the boards by an Orangemen defender. Immediately Reimo Paivinen rushed in to his brother's defense, only to have a 2nd Orangemen player charge him with fists swinging from 40 feet away after pushing Matt's attacker to the ice. The 4th Orangemen player was ejected, yet somehow the Bombers ended up on the penalty kill. During this kill the Bomber got a near break, but the puck bounced around and ended up on an Orangemen's stick, who shot the puck 20 feet in the air before it ricocheted into the Bombers goal. With only minutes left to play the Orangemen pulled their goalie hoping the man advantage would provide them with extra offense needed to send the game to OT. The Bombers put up a great defensive effort, however, and despite even more rough play in the form of crosschecks, holding, and open ice hip-checks, the Bomber ran out the clock on the Orangemen's perfect season, winning an action packed contest 5-3.
The Bombers now have sole possession of first place in the CMCHL with 32 points and a record of 10-1-1. Check out the official CMCHL website for the current standings. The performance of Dan Gonzales was obvious in this contest as he was awarded both "Player of the Game" by the Orangemen and "The Chain" by his Bombers teammates (awarded by last weeks winner Braden Humphrey). The Bombers will look to finish off the first half of the season on a high note, as next weekends game SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17th, 11:00pm @ SPORTSPLEX vs. the Coastal Saints will be the last until January. What better way to take a break from studying than coming to check out the Bombers in their last game of the year??
* INJURY UPDATE: There were several injuries during last Saturday's Bombers game. Goalie Dan Gonzales was injured in warm-up with what was is being called a leg injury, but stayed in the game and according to most sources will be ready for next weeks game.
On a more serious note, #57 Ben Vanderpol did not play in the game against the Orangemen as he was also injured in warm-up. Accounts from fans claim there was a significant amount of blood on the ice in the Bombers end, some believing that this injury was caused by a wayward puck coming off the boards. There have been rumors circulating that Vanderpol was seen on his way to a medical facility, however it has not been confirmed by credible sources at this time. Team officials for the Bombers were quite on the matter, issuing only a short statement saying "Ben is currently day-to-day with an upper body injury. We will have more information as things progress". The matter seems to have sparked some controversy however, as the Bomber will reportedly be looking at adjusting the team warm up and safety regulations.
There are serious concerns among the fans, and all are wishing Ben a speedy recovery and want to see him back on the ice soon.
The Bombers were focused and prepared for the game, and wanted to get off to a great start in order to take the momentum against a dangerous team. Unfortunately they got off to a rough start, even before the first puck drop. During the warm up defenceman Ben Vanderpol and goaltender Dan Gonzales were both injured. Vanderpol was forced to leave the game, while Gonzales was able to start. More on this at the end of the article.
Despite the rough pregame skate for the Bombers, they were able to refocus and started the game on even terms with the Orangemen. There was back and forth action as the teams battled for dominance. It was at the 12:19 mark of the first period that the stalemate was broken, as Chris Hirano took a feed from behind the net and chipped the puck top corner for the 1-0 Bombers lead. This was a huge boost for the Bombers, as it marked the first time in the entire season that the Orangemen had been losing at any point in a game. The Bombers kept the momentum and continued to work, eventually working the puck around in the offensive end and putting home a second marker, courtesy of Reimo Paivinen. The Orangemen managed to strike back less than a minute later with some shifty moves and dekes, but not to be outdone the "Soccer Boys" line finished the period off on a positive for the Bombers with another great passing play. This time it was Matt Paivinen finishing off the play and the period, giving the Bombers a 3-1 lead and putting them in a position no other team had been in for the entire season: ahead of the Orangemen on the score board. The second period saw the Orangmen come out obviously hungry to dig themselves out of their 2-goal hole. They struck two minutes into the period using speed and slick moves to get around Bombers left and right to end up getting another past Gonzales. Despite the lack of scoring over most of the period there were plenty of plays to make the period exciting, and at times frustrating. As the play progressed it was evident to players and fans that there were a surprising lack of penalties being called, despite the extra-physical play that was going on. Several open ice hits and obvious hold had the fans up in arms, but Coaches Jon McCauley and Gareth Jones did their best to keep the players on the bench composed and focused on the game. Despite being battered and bruised by their opponents, the Bombers continued to push the pace, and with a little over a minute left in the period Bombers pressure at the Orangemen net saw the puck come once again to Hirano who scored for the second time on the night and gave the Bombers a 4-2 lead after two periods. The rough play was upstaged only by several brilliant acrobatic saves by Gonzales intermittently throughout the frame to keep his team in the lead. With 15 minutes to go before the Bombers made history, the tone on the bench during the intermission was one of tension and excitement. The message from the coaches was don't let up, keep doing what you're doing and you'll pull this one out. The Bombers took the message to heart and came out flying in the third. The high pace action, matched with some frustration on the side of the Orangemen gave the Bombers a powerplay early in the period, and they took full advantage. A clean face-off win went to defenceman Curtis Hart who fake-shot to slap-pass went across the blueline to Jordan Dale, who fired a missile into the top corner of the net. The Orangemen continued to press however, and despite their rough play still had no penalties called. This lead to a confrontation as forward Matt Paivinen was dumped head first into the boards by an Orangemen defender. Immediately Reimo Paivinen rushed in to his brother's defense, only to have a 2nd Orangemen player charge him with fists swinging from 40 feet away after pushing Matt's attacker to the ice. The 4th Orangemen player was ejected, yet somehow the Bombers ended up on the penalty kill. During this kill the Bomber got a near break, but the puck bounced around and ended up on an Orangemen's stick, who shot the puck 20 feet in the air before it ricocheted into the Bombers goal. With only minutes left to play the Orangemen pulled their goalie hoping the man advantage would provide them with extra offense needed to send the game to OT. The Bombers put up a great defensive effort, however, and despite even more rough play in the form of crosschecks, holding, and open ice hip-checks, the Bomber ran out the clock on the Orangemen's perfect season, winning an action packed contest 5-3.
The Bombers now have sole possession of first place in the CMCHL with 32 points and a record of 10-1-1. Check out the official CMCHL website for the current standings. The performance of Dan Gonzales was obvious in this contest as he was awarded both "Player of the Game" by the Orangemen and "The Chain" by his Bombers teammates (awarded by last weeks winner Braden Humphrey). The Bombers will look to finish off the first half of the season on a high note, as next weekends game SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17th, 11:00pm @ SPORTSPLEX vs. the Coastal Saints will be the last until January. What better way to take a break from studying than coming to check out the Bombers in their last game of the year??
* INJURY UPDATE: There were several injuries during last Saturday's Bombers game. Goalie Dan Gonzales was injured in warm-up with what was is being called a leg injury, but stayed in the game and according to most sources will be ready for next weeks game.
On a more serious note, #57 Ben Vanderpol did not play in the game against the Orangemen as he was also injured in warm-up. Accounts from fans claim there was a significant amount of blood on the ice in the Bombers end, some believing that this injury was caused by a wayward puck coming off the boards. There have been rumors circulating that Vanderpol was seen on his way to a medical facility, however it has not been confirmed by credible sources at this time. Team officials for the Bombers were quite on the matter, issuing only a short statement saying "Ben is currently day-to-day with an upper body injury. We will have more information as things progress". The matter seems to have sparked some controversy however, as the Bomber will reportedly be looking at adjusting the team warm up and safety regulations.
There are serious concerns among the fans, and all are wishing Ben a speedy recovery and want to see him back on the ice soon.
BOMBERS ROUT EN ROUTE TO TOP SPOT
Coming off an impressive win against the always challenging
North Delta Knights, the TWU Bombers were looking to build off their stellar
performance in this weekends game against the Southgate Cyclones. The Bombers entered this contest with
three full lines and four defense pairs, significantly more bodies than they’ve
had for the majority of the season.
They were looking to take advantage of their numbers against an
undermanned Cyclones team, as well as a filled-to-capacity Sportsplex arena
populated by enthused Bombers supporters.
At the start of the first things didn’t seem to be going the way the Bombers
had planned. They spend most of
the first few minutes pinned in their own zone by an aggressive Southgate
forecheck. Early penalties also
got the Bombers in a bit of trouble, putting them down 5-on-4 and then taking
away a powerplay advantage. As the
period progressed however, the Bombers slowly began to find their stride. Pushing the Cyclones back into their
own zone with quick rushes, the Bombers opened the scoring as Chris Hirano took
a pass from Matt Hayes and put it high past the Cyclones goaltender. Not to be outdone, another rookie
sensation for the Bombers, Braden Humphrey, made some sweet dekes on the rush
to slide the puck in the net with seconds left before the end of the
period. The Bombers continued to
build on their momentum in the second frame. A faceoff win in the Cyclones end put the puck back on
Hirano’s (“Cheech”) stick, who took it down low and passed it to Curtis Dueck
in the slot, who shot it blocker side for the goal. The Bombers were just getting started, as captain Curtis
Hart put a slapshot through the Cyclones ‘tender, and a scramble in front saw Humphrey score his second of the
game. There was a setback late in
the period as the Bombers gave up a breakaway and subsequent goal, ending Dan
Gonzales’ perfect performance thus far.
The Bombers answered back quickly however, as more pressure in front
lead to Cheech’s second of the game from Dueck and Hayes. As the teams prepared to go into the
third, it was evident tension was already building on the Cyclones bench, and
it showed as the third began. The
Bombers’ Riemo Paivinen put home yet another marker early in the frame, but
after that point the game was dominated not by goals but by penalties. Matt Paivinen was smothered by Cyclone
defenders after the whistle, somehow prompting him to receive the only penalty
on the play. The oddities
continued as defender Ryan Loewen was grabbed and attempted to be pulled down
in the Bombers zone, yet came away with a holding penalty. There were also some interesting
non-calls, as Braden Humphrey received the business end of a Cyclone stick to
the mouth, with blood pouring onto the ice, yet no penalty was given. The Cyclones took things too far
however, and an assault on Loewen by two Southgate players lead to a roughing
and unsportsmanlike, with Loewen skating away without retaliating. Another unsportsmanlike call put the
Cyclones down late in the third, however a scuffle in front of the net lead to
Hayes receiving a penalty, putting the teams 4-on-4. Despite all the rough stuff, the Bombers managed to stay
composed and ended the game cleanly, winning by a score of 7-1.
A four point performance lead to Chris Hirano receiving Player of the Game honors, while Braden Humphrey’s hard work offensively and defensively saw him awarded the "Puck-on-a-Chain” (name undergoing revision), the Bombers' team award symbolizing overall hard work, commitment and determination by one player in the game. It was awarded by Riemo Paivinen, last weeks recipient and the first winner of the season. Special thanks to the sellout crowd, their cheers and support helped counteract the boisterous Southgate supporters. Also a shout out to the fans who brought their creative and colorful posters. There were post-game murmurings that the posters warranted a rare autograph session from Bombers star goalie Dan Gonzales.
Next week the Bombers face their biggest challenge of the
season, the 10-0 undefeated, CMCHL highest scoring team, the dominant
Orangemen. That contest takes
place next Saturday, December 4th 8:00 PM @ Sportsplex. Thanks again to all the fans, we look
forward to seeing you next week!!
BOMBERS DOMINATE IN PREFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
From
year to year teams change in the CMCHL, some lose players, some gather
new talent. But no matter what changes take place when the new season
gets underway there is always one thing that remains constant: TWU
Bombers vs North Delta Knights will always be an entertaining game.
With two of the most dominant players in the league the Knights pose a
threat to any team on any given night. If the Bombers were going to be
successful they would have to play great defensive hockey while also
trying to run up the score.
As both teams skated out for the warm up fans noticed a surprising lack of players in the Knights end. Two of the players missing included superstars #12 Jeff Sobolik and #17 Chris Stellar. With this new development the Bombers gameplan switched to making the game high tempo and outworking their opponents. The Bombers came out of the gate strong, keeping the play for most of the period in the Knight's end. Their pressure lead to a 5-on-3, but the Bombers were unable to capitalize. The Bombers had several sure goal stolen by Knights keeper Jon Dorey, keeping the score 0-0 at the end of the first. The Bombers didn't take their foot off the gas however, and it paid off early in the second, just 30 seconds in. Working the puck around, newly signed Bomber Reimo Paivinen made a cross crease pass to Braden Humphrey, who popped in his 5th of the season and the first of the game. Even with the arrival of North Delta's top players after the first period the Bombers kept up their breakneck pace, out skating and out working their opponents. They were again rewarded when, after a long shift, Corey Stroeder found a last gasp of energy, breaking in and putting the puck past the Knights goalie. The Bombers were forced to fight off two late period penalties, but the PK unit stood strong and the 2nd ended 2-0 for the good guys. During that period goalie Dan Gonzales also made an amazing behind-the-back diving save to keep the Knights off the board. The third opened with the Bomber's first laps, as the dreaded Sobolik-Stellar combination hooked up for a one time rocket that put the Knights within one. The Bombers bounced back quick however and soon regained the momentum, pinning the Knights in their own end. They were rewarded for their efforts again as on a 5-on-4 advantage the line of Paivinen, Paivinen, Humphrey connected yet again on a beautiful passing play down low. In a desperate attempt to get back in the game late North Delta pulled their goalie and made a push in the Bombers end. Some great defensive work by Chris Hirano lead to a turnover, and Hirano finished what he started potting the empty netter, finally giving the Cheech and Chong line a goal after they had been buzzing in the offensive zone for the first 44 minutes with nothing to show for their efforts. Final score: Bombers 4, Knights 1.
The win was a huge boost for the Bombers, as the three point night has propelled them in to FIRST PLACE IN THE LEAGUE!!!! Despite 11 of the other 12 teams all having players with significantly higher point totals, the Bombers success can be credited to all three of their forward lines contributing in scoring, as well as a combine effort by defensemen and goaltender to post the lowest Goals Against in the league by over 10 goals (next to the Orangemen). Humprhey was named Player of the Game, and his preformance puts him at the top of the heap in Bombers scoring with a 5 goals 9 assists. The Pavinen Paivinen Humphrey line is looking like a threat to become the most offensively powerful trio in the CMCHL with 6 points on the night in a dominant performance. Thanks as well to the surge of fans that appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the middle of the first period. Their presence undoubtedly threw off the Knights, and subsequently gave the Bombers the win.
Next up for the Bombers is a date with the Southgate Cyclones Nov. 27th, 9:15 PM @ Sporsplex. The Cyclones always bring out a pretty intense fan base, so get ready for an exciting night of hockey both on the ice and in the stands.
As both teams skated out for the warm up fans noticed a surprising lack of players in the Knights end. Two of the players missing included superstars #12 Jeff Sobolik and #17 Chris Stellar. With this new development the Bombers gameplan switched to making the game high tempo and outworking their opponents. The Bombers came out of the gate strong, keeping the play for most of the period in the Knight's end. Their pressure lead to a 5-on-3, but the Bombers were unable to capitalize. The Bombers had several sure goal stolen by Knights keeper Jon Dorey, keeping the score 0-0 at the end of the first. The Bombers didn't take their foot off the gas however, and it paid off early in the second, just 30 seconds in. Working the puck around, newly signed Bomber Reimo Paivinen made a cross crease pass to Braden Humphrey, who popped in his 5th of the season and the first of the game. Even with the arrival of North Delta's top players after the first period the Bombers kept up their breakneck pace, out skating and out working their opponents. They were again rewarded when, after a long shift, Corey Stroeder found a last gasp of energy, breaking in and putting the puck past the Knights goalie. The Bombers were forced to fight off two late period penalties, but the PK unit stood strong and the 2nd ended 2-0 for the good guys. During that period goalie Dan Gonzales also made an amazing behind-the-back diving save to keep the Knights off the board. The third opened with the Bomber's first laps, as the dreaded Sobolik-Stellar combination hooked up for a one time rocket that put the Knights within one. The Bombers bounced back quick however and soon regained the momentum, pinning the Knights in their own end. They were rewarded for their efforts again as on a 5-on-4 advantage the line of Paivinen, Paivinen, Humphrey connected yet again on a beautiful passing play down low. In a desperate attempt to get back in the game late North Delta pulled their goalie and made a push in the Bombers end. Some great defensive work by Chris Hirano lead to a turnover, and Hirano finished what he started potting the empty netter, finally giving the Cheech and Chong line a goal after they had been buzzing in the offensive zone for the first 44 minutes with nothing to show for their efforts. Final score: Bombers 4, Knights 1.
The win was a huge boost for the Bombers, as the three point night has propelled them in to FIRST PLACE IN THE LEAGUE!!!! Despite 11 of the other 12 teams all having players with significantly higher point totals, the Bombers success can be credited to all three of their forward lines contributing in scoring, as well as a combine effort by defensemen and goaltender to post the lowest Goals Against in the league by over 10 goals (next to the Orangemen). Humprhey was named Player of the Game, and his preformance puts him at the top of the heap in Bombers scoring with a 5 goals 9 assists. The Pavinen Paivinen Humphrey line is looking like a threat to become the most offensively powerful trio in the CMCHL with 6 points on the night in a dominant performance. Thanks as well to the surge of fans that appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the middle of the first period. Their presence undoubtedly threw off the Knights, and subsequently gave the Bombers the win.
Next up for the Bombers is a date with the Southgate Cyclones Nov. 27th, 9:15 PM @ Sporsplex. The Cyclones always bring out a pretty intense fan base, so get ready for an exciting night of hockey both on the ice and in the stands.
TRINITY TEAMS TIE 2-2
As
soon as the CMCHL schedule was released, media and fans alike had
circled this week’s Bombers Vs Renegade primetime battle on their
calendars. Leading up to the game multiple text messages were exchanged
between former Bomber Captain, now a Renegade Dave “Cheesebread”
Giesbrecht, (a legend for his game winning OT championship goal) and
many of the current Bombers roster. What was hype leading up to the game
served be true as soon as the puck dropped.
The Bombers were told by both coaches Gareth Jones and Jonathan McCauley to push the pace early, but to be aware defensively. You could cut the tension with a spoon, but on the second shift, the soccer boys line (Matt P, Braden H and call-up Reimo P) controlled the puck down low for what seemed like minutes. The puck eventually was put on net and in spectacular fashion, Reimo batted a bouncing puck it into the back of the net with impeccable hand-eye coordination. 1-0 lead after only a minute and a half.
The Renegades did not die; they simply flexed their muscles. Only a minute and a half later, former TWU Titan/Wolverine standout, Josh Macknee (who drew the attention of the Bombers D all night) fed the puck to a streaking unnamed Renegade (scoresheet error) who made no mistake burying the tying marker.
For almost two periods, the teams went back and forth with both goalies making epic save after epic save. It felt like it was only a moment of time before one team would break the deadlock. Finally with just over 3 minutes left in the second, Corey “I got moves you ain’t ever dreamed of” Stroeder buried a shot past the Renegade keeper. 2-1 Bombers.
With a period left, the Bombers were told to continue to push the pace, but tragically with only 87 seconds left, Macknee for the second time found a streaking Renegade, Captain Tore Jacobsen, in the slot who made no mistake with the shot. For the second week in a row, the Bombers entered OT. It was a period clearly controlled by the Bombers, but the chances simply didn’t materialize into goals. The buzzer went and the final score stayed 2-2.
Of note, the Bombers defense core had one of the strongest games in the history of the CMCHL. Both Ryan Loewen and Jordan Dale received recognition following the game along with the goaltending efforts of Daniel Gonzalez. Renegade and Bomber Alumni Dave Giesbrecht had a solid performance, dangling inside out nearly everyone on the ice but was held in check defensively. Curtis Dueck was held out of the lineup after the limo he was riding to the game had transmission problems and no spare vehicle could be obtained. Also of note, sitting in the parents luxury box were the parents of Cheech Hirano all the way from San Jose, California. On behalf of the Bombers organization, we apologize for not winning….
The next game for the Bombers is at the George Preston Arena, Friday November 19th, at 10:45pm Vs North Delta Knights.
The Bombers were told by both coaches Gareth Jones and Jonathan McCauley to push the pace early, but to be aware defensively. You could cut the tension with a spoon, but on the second shift, the soccer boys line (Matt P, Braden H and call-up Reimo P) controlled the puck down low for what seemed like minutes. The puck eventually was put on net and in spectacular fashion, Reimo batted a bouncing puck it into the back of the net with impeccable hand-eye coordination. 1-0 lead after only a minute and a half.
The Renegades did not die; they simply flexed their muscles. Only a minute and a half later, former TWU Titan/Wolverine standout, Josh Macknee (who drew the attention of the Bombers D all night) fed the puck to a streaking unnamed Renegade (scoresheet error) who made no mistake burying the tying marker.
For almost two periods, the teams went back and forth with both goalies making epic save after epic save. It felt like it was only a moment of time before one team would break the deadlock. Finally with just over 3 minutes left in the second, Corey “I got moves you ain’t ever dreamed of” Stroeder buried a shot past the Renegade keeper. 2-1 Bombers.
With a period left, the Bombers were told to continue to push the pace, but tragically with only 87 seconds left, Macknee for the second time found a streaking Renegade, Captain Tore Jacobsen, in the slot who made no mistake with the shot. For the second week in a row, the Bombers entered OT. It was a period clearly controlled by the Bombers, but the chances simply didn’t materialize into goals. The buzzer went and the final score stayed 2-2.
Of note, the Bombers defense core had one of the strongest games in the history of the CMCHL. Both Ryan Loewen and Jordan Dale received recognition following the game along with the goaltending efforts of Daniel Gonzalez. Renegade and Bomber Alumni Dave Giesbrecht had a solid performance, dangling inside out nearly everyone on the ice but was held in check defensively. Curtis Dueck was held out of the lineup after the limo he was riding to the game had transmission problems and no spare vehicle could be obtained. Also of note, sitting in the parents luxury box were the parents of Cheech Hirano all the way from San Jose, California. On behalf of the Bombers organization, we apologize for not winning….
The next game for the Bombers is at the George Preston Arena, Friday November 19th, at 10:45pm Vs North Delta Knights.
BOMBERS EARN W IN EXTRA TIME
The
TWU Bombers faced a real test this past Saturday night as they took on
the Willingdon Avalanche. The Avalanche were only 2 points behind the
Bombers in the CMCHL standings, so the Bombers were looking to give
themselves some breathing room in the race for the number 1 position.
Willingdon boasts a roster with top scorers putting up 31 and 24 points
in a young 7 game season, so the Bombers were looking to clamp down
defensively.
The game started off with both teams fairly evenly matched. The pace was quick and intense with rushes going both ways. The stalemate was broken when Braden Humphrey took a breakout pass and flew into the offensive end. With 2 defenders right on his tail, Humphrey made a highlight real move, deking left then right to slide a goal past the Avalanche keeper. The lead was short lived however, as Willingdon's top scorers put up two goals at the end of the frame, putting the Bombers down a goal. The second period once again saw the pace slow down for the Bombers, but this time they were able to fend off their opponents. About 5 minutes into the frame some sweet passing in the offensive zone ended on the stick of Matt Paivinen, who chipped one home. Only 30 seconds later that same line connected again. This time a pinch on the blue line lead to Dman Ryan Loewen bringing the puck back in deep, catching the Avalanche anticipating a breakout. The 2-on-1 lead to a one-time chance in front, and on the rebound Curtis Dueck shoveled in a backhand. The Bombers held the lead and momentum until the very end of the frame, and with 30 seconds left the Avalanche scored again to even it up. The third period didn't start out the way the Bombers wanted, as Avalanche leading scorer Adam Torris notched his 3rd goal of the game, putting the Trinity team down 4-3. The rest of the period was nothing short of a battle. With four minutes left in the period the Bombers shot the puck around the boards, and Matt Hayes picked up the puck, threading a pass through to the front of the net, where Jon McCauley, who had taken both a knee on knee collision and a slap shot to the ribs earlier in the game, one timed the puck into the far side of the net, knotting the game up at 4 a piece. While the Bomber spent the last part of the period trapped in their own end, it all came down to 5 minutes of extra time. It was a back and forth OT until Torris took a hooking penalty on a speeding Chris Hirano, and was subsequently ejected for verbally berating the referee. While the Bombers were not able to score on the powerplay, they got the momentum, and a Curtis Hart slap pass to Hirano created a huge scrum in front, and the puck popped right on to the stick of Braden Humphrey, who chipped in the game winner in one of the most exciting games so far this season.
The win moves the Bombers winning streak to four games, and with the win they move 5 points ahead of the Avalanche. Congratulations to Hirano, who was named player of the game. Although he stayed in the game for it's entirety, coach Jon McCauley was diagnosed with an upper/lower body injury, and is questionable for next Saturdays (Nov. 13th) contest against the TWU Alumni Renegades, 8:00pm at Sportsplex. The Bombers will be up against their leading scorer from last season, David "Geez" Giesbrecht. It's looking to be an action packed game, so come out and spend your Rememberance Day weekend with your TWU Bombers!
The game started off with both teams fairly evenly matched. The pace was quick and intense with rushes going both ways. The stalemate was broken when Braden Humphrey took a breakout pass and flew into the offensive end. With 2 defenders right on his tail, Humphrey made a highlight real move, deking left then right to slide a goal past the Avalanche keeper. The lead was short lived however, as Willingdon's top scorers put up two goals at the end of the frame, putting the Bombers down a goal. The second period once again saw the pace slow down for the Bombers, but this time they were able to fend off their opponents. About 5 minutes into the frame some sweet passing in the offensive zone ended on the stick of Matt Paivinen, who chipped one home. Only 30 seconds later that same line connected again. This time a pinch on the blue line lead to Dman Ryan Loewen bringing the puck back in deep, catching the Avalanche anticipating a breakout. The 2-on-1 lead to a one-time chance in front, and on the rebound Curtis Dueck shoveled in a backhand. The Bombers held the lead and momentum until the very end of the frame, and with 30 seconds left the Avalanche scored again to even it up. The third period didn't start out the way the Bombers wanted, as Avalanche leading scorer Adam Torris notched his 3rd goal of the game, putting the Trinity team down 4-3. The rest of the period was nothing short of a battle. With four minutes left in the period the Bombers shot the puck around the boards, and Matt Hayes picked up the puck, threading a pass through to the front of the net, where Jon McCauley, who had taken both a knee on knee collision and a slap shot to the ribs earlier in the game, one timed the puck into the far side of the net, knotting the game up at 4 a piece. While the Bomber spent the last part of the period trapped in their own end, it all came down to 5 minutes of extra time. It was a back and forth OT until Torris took a hooking penalty on a speeding Chris Hirano, and was subsequently ejected for verbally berating the referee. While the Bombers were not able to score on the powerplay, they got the momentum, and a Curtis Hart slap pass to Hirano created a huge scrum in front, and the puck popped right on to the stick of Braden Humphrey, who chipped in the game winner in one of the most exciting games so far this season.
The win moves the Bombers winning streak to four games, and with the win they move 5 points ahead of the Avalanche. Congratulations to Hirano, who was named player of the game. Although he stayed in the game for it's entirety, coach Jon McCauley was diagnosed with an upper/lower body injury, and is questionable for next Saturdays (Nov. 13th) contest against the TWU Alumni Renegades, 8:00pm at Sportsplex. The Bombers will be up against their leading scorer from last season, David "Geez" Giesbrecht. It's looking to be an action packed game, so come out and spend your Rememberance Day weekend with your TWU Bombers!
WINNING WAYS CONTINUE FOR BOMBERS
Last
weekend the TWU Bombers looked to maintain their winning ways as they
went up against the expansion Coastal Saints who have been struggling up
to this point in the season. After the near-disaster the Bombers
almost encountered in their game against last place KCC Cougars, the
Bombers were not about to take anyone lightly.
The game started in a much better fashion for the Bombers then in their previous games. They came out hard and put the pressure on the Saints, spending most of the period in the offensive zone. It didn't take long for the guys to capitalize, as Pieter Russouw popped one in from in close and gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead early in the period. The Bombers weren't done, as Titan teammates Matt Paivinen and Braden Humphrey connected for a goal midway through the frame. The Saints did manage to put one goal past TWU in the frame, but the Bombers quickly regained momentum, finishing the period 2-1 firmly in control. Unfortunately the Bombers found another problem in their game. Coming out for the second period the team seemed to step off the gas pedal, and the Saints began gaining some momentum. The only goal of the frame went to the Saints off a screened shot as the Bombers were backpedaling into their own zone. The second intermission had to be a time for the Bombers to regroup and stop the bleeding. Passionate calls to action by Jon McCauley, Dan Gonzales and Curtis Hart inspired the Bombers to come out swinging in the third. After killing off several penalties the Bombers trapped the Saints in their own end, and worked the puck around. A howitzer from Russ Bartel (est. at 90 mph) flew past the Saints tender and put the Bombers up. The Bombers finished it off with another blast from the point as Jordan Dale picked the lower corner and gave the Bombers a 4-2 win.
The Bombers now are riding a 3 game winning streak, matching their season high. Congratulations to Matt Hayes for being awarded Player of the Game. The Bombers are now 6-1, putting them in 3rd place behind 22 point CLA Hounds and the 8-0 Orangemen. The Bombers also boast the lowest goals against with only 18 scored on them in 7 games. TWU is about to start a series of games against tough opponents, starting this weekend on Saturday Nov. 6 when they play the 4th place Willingdon Avalanche, 9:15pm @ Sportsplex Arena in Walnut Grove. Come out and support your TWU Bombers!! Remember, without fans we're just rec hockey...
The game started in a much better fashion for the Bombers then in their previous games. They came out hard and put the pressure on the Saints, spending most of the period in the offensive zone. It didn't take long for the guys to capitalize, as Pieter Russouw popped one in from in close and gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead early in the period. The Bombers weren't done, as Titan teammates Matt Paivinen and Braden Humphrey connected for a goal midway through the frame. The Saints did manage to put one goal past TWU in the frame, but the Bombers quickly regained momentum, finishing the period 2-1 firmly in control. Unfortunately the Bombers found another problem in their game. Coming out for the second period the team seemed to step off the gas pedal, and the Saints began gaining some momentum. The only goal of the frame went to the Saints off a screened shot as the Bombers were backpedaling into their own zone. The second intermission had to be a time for the Bombers to regroup and stop the bleeding. Passionate calls to action by Jon McCauley, Dan Gonzales and Curtis Hart inspired the Bombers to come out swinging in the third. After killing off several penalties the Bombers trapped the Saints in their own end, and worked the puck around. A howitzer from Russ Bartel (est. at 90 mph) flew past the Saints tender and put the Bombers up. The Bombers finished it off with another blast from the point as Jordan Dale picked the lower corner and gave the Bombers a 4-2 win.
The Bombers now are riding a 3 game winning streak, matching their season high. Congratulations to Matt Hayes for being awarded Player of the Game. The Bombers are now 6-1, putting them in 3rd place behind 22 point CLA Hounds and the 8-0 Orangemen. The Bombers also boast the lowest goals against with only 18 scored on them in 7 games. TWU is about to start a series of games against tough opponents, starting this weekend on Saturday Nov. 6 when they play the 4th place Willingdon Avalanche, 9:15pm @ Sportsplex Arena in Walnut Grove. Come out and support your TWU Bombers!! Remember, without fans we're just rec hockey...
LATE NIGHT WAR GOES TO BOMBERS
11:30
PM may seem like a good time for most normal people to be sitting in
bed, watching TV right before going to bed, or any number of other
activities associated with sleeping. The Bombers, however, see 11:30 as
a perfect time to be on the ice playing Canada's game. That's exactly
what happened last Saturday night, as the Bombers went head to head
against the CAC Warriors. The Warriors are known as a wily old team of
veterans with some players who can dominate a game. The Bombers were
going to need to respect their scoring ability while at the same time
put the pressure on all game if they wanted to come out with a win.
The Bombers made a better start to the first period than they have the last couple games, but it still wasn't the start they were looking for. Seven minutes in CAC took a shot from the point that deflected off a couple sticks in front and zig-zagged its way past tender Dan Gonzales. The Bombers, once again, were forced to regroup in the first intermission and try to come out stronger in the second. The next frame saw the Bombers pick up the pace and begin putting pressure on the Warriors. This led to a slew of CAC penalties, and the Bombers took to the powerplay. On their second man-advantage, Braden Humphrey worked the puck to the point where D-man Russ Bartel fired a missile at the Warriors net. It bounced off the end boards to a waiting Curtis Dueck, who popped in a close goal from a bad angle off the goalies helmet. The Bombers continued to press for the rest of the period, and finished off the second with the score 1-1. Coach McCauley urged his team to play a dump-and-chase game for the third period, citing a weak CAC defense that when forced had been slow on the puck all night. The Bombers did just that, and the momentum really swung towards TWU. Coach Gareth Jones, in an interesting move, put rookie Chris Hirano at center. It was a decision that baffled some commentators, however Jones must have seen the potential of a Hirano, Hayes, Humphrey line. A dumped puck and good pressure lead to a play in the CAC end, as play-making Braden Humphrey passed a puck cross-crease to Chris "Cheech" Hirano, who went top shelf to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead. Cheech wasn't done however, and just moments later on the very same shift he dangled through the Warriors defense to put home his second of the night. With a two goal lead the Bombers didn't let up, and it took CAC pulling their goalie for the extra attacker to equalize the pressure. Some great defense from the Bombers kept the puck out of harms way however, and Matt Hayes put home the insurance goal, allowing the Bombers to walk away with a 4-1 win.
The Bombers were joined this game by red-shirting Spartan Matt Thomspon, who looked great in his first game as a Bomber. Dan Gonzales was awarded the coveted CMCHL Player of the Game free skate sharpening. Thanks to all the die-hard fans who came out for the latest game of the season, it was their cheering that really lit a fire under the Bombers. The next game will be another late one,
11:00 PM Saturday, October 30 vs the expansion Coastal Saints. Spend your Halloween with the only people who dawn the orange and black all year round, the TWU Bombers!!
Don't forget, for up to the minute Bombers news, visit twitter.com/twubombers, and tell your friends to check out www.twubombers.com for everything Bombers!
The Bombers made a better start to the first period than they have the last couple games, but it still wasn't the start they were looking for. Seven minutes in CAC took a shot from the point that deflected off a couple sticks in front and zig-zagged its way past tender Dan Gonzales. The Bombers, once again, were forced to regroup in the first intermission and try to come out stronger in the second. The next frame saw the Bombers pick up the pace and begin putting pressure on the Warriors. This led to a slew of CAC penalties, and the Bombers took to the powerplay. On their second man-advantage, Braden Humphrey worked the puck to the point where D-man Russ Bartel fired a missile at the Warriors net. It bounced off the end boards to a waiting Curtis Dueck, who popped in a close goal from a bad angle off the goalies helmet. The Bombers continued to press for the rest of the period, and finished off the second with the score 1-1. Coach McCauley urged his team to play a dump-and-chase game for the third period, citing a weak CAC defense that when forced had been slow on the puck all night. The Bombers did just that, and the momentum really swung towards TWU. Coach Gareth Jones, in an interesting move, put rookie Chris Hirano at center. It was a decision that baffled some commentators, however Jones must have seen the potential of a Hirano, Hayes, Humphrey line. A dumped puck and good pressure lead to a play in the CAC end, as play-making Braden Humphrey passed a puck cross-crease to Chris "Cheech" Hirano, who went top shelf to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead. Cheech wasn't done however, and just moments later on the very same shift he dangled through the Warriors defense to put home his second of the night. With a two goal lead the Bombers didn't let up, and it took CAC pulling their goalie for the extra attacker to equalize the pressure. Some great defense from the Bombers kept the puck out of harms way however, and Matt Hayes put home the insurance goal, allowing the Bombers to walk away with a 4-1 win.
The Bombers were joined this game by red-shirting Spartan Matt Thomspon, who looked great in his first game as a Bomber. Dan Gonzales was awarded the coveted CMCHL Player of the Game free skate sharpening. Thanks to all the die-hard fans who came out for the latest game of the season, it was their cheering that really lit a fire under the Bombers. The next game will be another late one,
11:00 PM Saturday, October 30 vs the expansion Coastal Saints. Spend your Halloween with the only people who dawn the orange and black all year round, the TWU Bombers!!
Don't forget, for up to the minute Bombers news, visit twitter.com/twubombers, and tell your friends to check out www.twubombers.com for everything Bombers!
BOMBERS WEATHER COUGAR ATTACK
After
suffering the first loss of the season the Bombers were looking to find
themselves in the win column once again, as this weekend they were up
against the 0-5 KCC Cougars. Playing a team at the bottom of the pile
the Bombers were looking for a dominating performance.
The first period was far from dominant however. Once again the Bomber's opponents scored under two minutes into the game. The entire first period was controlled mostly by the Cougars who certainly didn't play like a last place team. The Bombers took the 1st intermission to regroup and refocus, with coach McCauley lighting a fire under his players. The Cougars kept up the pressure however and sweet shot by Bomber Alumnus Phil Craig made it 2-0 KCC. The Bombers wouldn't quit however, and some good pressure in the Cougars end led to Ben "Hollywood" Vanderpol scoring his first goal of the season to put the his team on the board. A quick break by the Cougars lead to another goal in a scoring-frenzied second frame. The teams still weren't done however, as a KCC penalty put the Bombers on the power play. With good puck movement in the offensive end the Bombers got off a shot which lead to a huge rebound, and center Curtis Dueck popped in an easy goal to put the Bombers within one. With the momentum swinging significantly in the direction of the black and orange, the TWU squad was looking to capitalize. 5 minutes in they did just that, as Dueck threw a shot on net from the goal line that somehow sneaked through the pads of the Cougars tender. For a moment it looked as if the Bombers were about to lose that momentum as Curtis Hart came back hard to break up a KCC breakaway, but in the process gave the Cougars a penalty shot. The pressure then fell squarely on shoulders of the Bombers goalie, however a calm and collected Dan Gonzales played it perfectly and forced the Cougars player to shoot wide. As if the Bombers needed any extra motivation, this seemed to spark the team. At the 10 minute mark Titans soccer star Braden Humphrey took a breakout pass, dangled around three Cougar defenders and put a sweet deke on the KCC netminder, putting a backhander top shelf where mom keeps the peanutbutter, and giving the Bombers a 4-3 lead. There was a four minute break in play to allow Cougars players time to pick their equipment up off the ice. Not to be outdone, Humphrey's Titans teammate Matt Paivinen got his own goal 15 seconds later. A great third period for the Bombers was marred slightly by an odd play at the end of the period, when a slow change gave the Bombers a too many men penalty. The strange part came moments later as the teams got ready to restart the play with a faceoff by the Bombers bench. Suddenly the whistle blew as Bombers defenseman Jordan Dale was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. When asked what was said in a postgame interview, Dale explained he said "What's next? What's next?" to the Bombers defense on the ice in an attempt to get them refocused after the penalty. What was heard on the ice remains a mystery, however Dale handled the bizarre situation with class, going quietly to the box and not taking any additional minutes. The Bombers were able to kill off the penalty and finish out the game with a 5-3 victory.
Congratulation to Ben Stewart for playing in his first game as a Bomber. Thanks as well to all the fans who came out even after a loss the previous game. The next for the Bombers happens Saturday Oct. 23 at 11:30pm, when the Bombers go up against the CAC Warriors. Come on out, what else will you be doing at 11:30??
The first period was far from dominant however. Once again the Bomber's opponents scored under two minutes into the game. The entire first period was controlled mostly by the Cougars who certainly didn't play like a last place team. The Bombers took the 1st intermission to regroup and refocus, with coach McCauley lighting a fire under his players. The Cougars kept up the pressure however and sweet shot by Bomber Alumnus Phil Craig made it 2-0 KCC. The Bombers wouldn't quit however, and some good pressure in the Cougars end led to Ben "Hollywood" Vanderpol scoring his first goal of the season to put the his team on the board. A quick break by the Cougars lead to another goal in a scoring-frenzied second frame. The teams still weren't done however, as a KCC penalty put the Bombers on the power play. With good puck movement in the offensive end the Bombers got off a shot which lead to a huge rebound, and center Curtis Dueck popped in an easy goal to put the Bombers within one. With the momentum swinging significantly in the direction of the black and orange, the TWU squad was looking to capitalize. 5 minutes in they did just that, as Dueck threw a shot on net from the goal line that somehow sneaked through the pads of the Cougars tender. For a moment it looked as if the Bombers were about to lose that momentum as Curtis Hart came back hard to break up a KCC breakaway, but in the process gave the Cougars a penalty shot. The pressure then fell squarely on shoulders of the Bombers goalie, however a calm and collected Dan Gonzales played it perfectly and forced the Cougars player to shoot wide. As if the Bombers needed any extra motivation, this seemed to spark the team. At the 10 minute mark Titans soccer star Braden Humphrey took a breakout pass, dangled around three Cougar defenders and put a sweet deke on the KCC netminder, putting a backhander top shelf where mom keeps the peanutbutter, and giving the Bombers a 4-3 lead. There was a four minute break in play to allow Cougars players time to pick their equipment up off the ice. Not to be outdone, Humphrey's Titans teammate Matt Paivinen got his own goal 15 seconds later. A great third period for the Bombers was marred slightly by an odd play at the end of the period, when a slow change gave the Bombers a too many men penalty. The strange part came moments later as the teams got ready to restart the play with a faceoff by the Bombers bench. Suddenly the whistle blew as Bombers defenseman Jordan Dale was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. When asked what was said in a postgame interview, Dale explained he said "What's next? What's next?" to the Bombers defense on the ice in an attempt to get them refocused after the penalty. What was heard on the ice remains a mystery, however Dale handled the bizarre situation with class, going quietly to the box and not taking any additional minutes. The Bombers were able to kill off the penalty and finish out the game with a 5-3 victory.
Congratulation to Ben Stewart for playing in his first game as a Bomber. Thanks as well to all the fans who came out even after a loss the previous game. The next for the Bombers happens Saturday Oct. 23 at 11:30pm, when the Bombers go up against the CAC Warriors. Come on out, what else will you be doing at 11:30??
EARLY MUSTANG STAMPEED HAS BOMBERS DROP FIRST OF THE YEAR
The
Bombers came into this Thanksgiving weekend's game thankful for a
perfect 3-0 record, a surprising start considering this was supposed to
be a rebuilding year. The Bombers looked to continue their success
against the TLC Mustangs, a top contender in the CMCHL as well as one of
the rougher teams around, racking up 398 minutes in penalties last
season.
With both teams fielding a less than complete lineup the Bombers were aiming to gain the upper hand early and showcase their ever improving stamina. This would prove not to be the case, however, as the Mustangs came out on a rush and put one past a screened Dan Gonzales to make it 1-0. TLC kept the Bombers on their heels, and before 5 minutes were passed in the first period the score was 3-0. The first frame also proved to be a rather chippy affair with both teams taking three penalties. A reeling Bombers squad spent a somber first intermission on the bench trying to find a way to push back against the physically imposing Mustangs. Throughout the second the Bombers appeared to be turning the tide, keeping TLC off the score sheet and slowly putting on more pressure in the offensive end. They were rewarded at the very end of the frame, with Curits Hart finding the back of the net with seconds to spare. The teams matched up evenly in the third with one goal apiece, the Bomber's mark coming courtesy of a dangling Gareth Jones. Hope was fading fast for the Bombers as with two minutes left they were two goals down. However, with under 2 remaining Coach Jon McCauley stepped up and delivered a huge goal for the Bombers, putting them within one of sending the game to overtime. In a last ditch effort the Bombers pulled their goalie and went with six attackers in the Mustangs end frantically searching for that equalizing goal. However it was not to be as time expired and the Bombers dropped their first loss of the season 3-4.
Post game analysis from commentators sighted a sluggish pace and high percentage of losses in loose puck battles as key factors in the Bomber's loss. Perhaps a change of scenery will help the Bombers return to their early season stride as they return to Sportsplex arena for the first time in three weeks. This Saturday @ 9:45pm they'll be facing the KCC Cougars, a team yet to win a contest in the young 5-game-old season. Needless to say the Bombers will be looking for a big win and a chance to improve their overall game play. Be on the lookout for TWU players at your local David E. Enarson Gym this week as they will likely be training hard to avenge last weeks devastating loss.
With both teams fielding a less than complete lineup the Bombers were aiming to gain the upper hand early and showcase their ever improving stamina. This would prove not to be the case, however, as the Mustangs came out on a rush and put one past a screened Dan Gonzales to make it 1-0. TLC kept the Bombers on their heels, and before 5 minutes were passed in the first period the score was 3-0. The first frame also proved to be a rather chippy affair with both teams taking three penalties. A reeling Bombers squad spent a somber first intermission on the bench trying to find a way to push back against the physically imposing Mustangs. Throughout the second the Bombers appeared to be turning the tide, keeping TLC off the score sheet and slowly putting on more pressure in the offensive end. They were rewarded at the very end of the frame, with Curits Hart finding the back of the net with seconds to spare. The teams matched up evenly in the third with one goal apiece, the Bomber's mark coming courtesy of a dangling Gareth Jones. Hope was fading fast for the Bombers as with two minutes left they were two goals down. However, with under 2 remaining Coach Jon McCauley stepped up and delivered a huge goal for the Bombers, putting them within one of sending the game to overtime. In a last ditch effort the Bombers pulled their goalie and went with six attackers in the Mustangs end frantically searching for that equalizing goal. However it was not to be as time expired and the Bombers dropped their first loss of the season 3-4.
Post game analysis from commentators sighted a sluggish pace and high percentage of losses in loose puck battles as key factors in the Bomber's loss. Perhaps a change of scenery will help the Bombers return to their early season stride as they return to Sportsplex arena for the first time in three weeks. This Saturday @ 9:45pm they'll be facing the KCC Cougars, a team yet to win a contest in the young 5-game-old season. Needless to say the Bombers will be looking for a big win and a chance to improve their overall game play. Be on the lookout for TWU players at your local David E. Enarson Gym this week as they will likely be training hard to avenge last weeks devastating loss.
CANT GET ENOUGH BOMBERS??
The TWU Bombers are now on Twitter! Get all your Bomber's updates live and in real time, follow the Bombers at twitter.com/twubombers. Go check it out!!
HOUNDS MOUNT LATE COMEBACK, NOT ENOUGH TO DEFEAT BOMBERS
In
the first Friday night game of this young hockey season the Bombers
traveled to George Preston Arena, ready to do battle with the CLA
Hounds, the current #1 team in the league with 9 points. The Bombers
squad was no longer depleted with all student leaders back in action
after last weekend's retreat, so the team was looking for a strong
outing against a dangerous groups of scorers.
The Bombers opened up the game putting the pressure on the Hounds. Chris Hirano slid a pass through three defenders to Curtis Dueck who popped in the first goal of the game at 5:58. There was no other scoring in the first, but both teams were putting the pressure on and made for an exciting opening frame. The second period started and the Bombers really started to stomp on the gas. Braden Humphrey got his first goal as a Bomber on a scramble in front of the Hound's goal when all three forwards went hard to the net. This was followed by a parade of Hound's players to the sin bin giving the Bombers almost 7 straight minutes of power play time. The Bombers were able to capitalize near the end of the the lengthy man advantage as the power play unit used some great puck movement, and newly signed defender Ryan Loewen slid a perfect pass across the slot to Russ Bartel, who crushed a one-timer putting it in the back of the mesh. With only one of the Bomber's forward lines still goalless on the night, Corey Stroeder took a sweet shot from the top of the circle with 2 minutes left in the second for his first of the year. The Bombers looked to have the game under wraps when Gareth Jones notched the fifth Bombers goal of the night several minutes into the third. But as they say, its not over until its over, and the Hounds began mounting their comeback with a goal eight minutes into the final frame. They scored two more quickly and with minutes left the Hounds pulled the goalie. The Bombers were able to hold off the attack and keep the Hounds out of their end, finish the game with a 5-3 win. Needless to say the team was disappointed with their effort in the third round. The three goals in the third put a bit of a damper on goaltender Dan Gonzales' otherwise spectacular night, so whoever said the word "shutout" in the third period thereby jinxing Dan, he is going to find you...
The Bombers will once again be playing on Friday next week as they take on another top contender in the league, the TLC Mustangs. The Mustangs led the league last year with 398 minutes in penalties, so needless to say next Fridays game will be bringing fans out of their sets, and should be far more than worth the price of admission ($0). Come on out to George Preston Arena @ 10:45, directions are in the "Arena" link at the top of the page. This will be the last Friday night game of the semester.
The Bombers opened up the game putting the pressure on the Hounds. Chris Hirano slid a pass through three defenders to Curtis Dueck who popped in the first goal of the game at 5:58. There was no other scoring in the first, but both teams were putting the pressure on and made for an exciting opening frame. The second period started and the Bombers really started to stomp on the gas. Braden Humphrey got his first goal as a Bomber on a scramble in front of the Hound's goal when all three forwards went hard to the net. This was followed by a parade of Hound's players to the sin bin giving the Bombers almost 7 straight minutes of power play time. The Bombers were able to capitalize near the end of the the lengthy man advantage as the power play unit used some great puck movement, and newly signed defender Ryan Loewen slid a perfect pass across the slot to Russ Bartel, who crushed a one-timer putting it in the back of the mesh. With only one of the Bomber's forward lines still goalless on the night, Corey Stroeder took a sweet shot from the top of the circle with 2 minutes left in the second for his first of the year. The Bombers looked to have the game under wraps when Gareth Jones notched the fifth Bombers goal of the night several minutes into the third. But as they say, its not over until its over, and the Hounds began mounting their comeback with a goal eight minutes into the final frame. They scored two more quickly and with minutes left the Hounds pulled the goalie. The Bombers were able to hold off the attack and keep the Hounds out of their end, finish the game with a 5-3 win. Needless to say the team was disappointed with their effort in the third round. The three goals in the third put a bit of a damper on goaltender Dan Gonzales' otherwise spectacular night, so whoever said the word "shutout" in the third period thereby jinxing Dan, he is going to find you...
The Bombers will once again be playing on Friday next week as they take on another top contender in the league, the TLC Mustangs. The Mustangs led the league last year with 398 minutes in penalties, so needless to say next Fridays game will be bringing fans out of their sets, and should be far more than worth the price of admission ($0). Come on out to George Preston Arena @ 10:45, directions are in the "Arena" link at the top of the page. This will be the last Friday night game of the semester.
ABBOTSFORD PACKS IT IN EARLY
AGAINST THE BOMBERS
The
Bombers faced off this weekend against a rejuvenated and renamed
Abbotsford Wolfpack. With the Trinity Student Life Qwanoes retreat
underway the Bombers found themselves once again undermanned going into
Saturdays game. With the help of some call-up players as well as
coaches Jon McCauley and Gareth Jones stepping off the bench and onto
the ice, a patchwork Bombers squad looked to extend their winning ways.
It
wasn't the start the Bombers were looking for as the Wolfpack scored 30
seconds into the first period. Despite being down early Trinity picked
up the pace and young gun Chris "Cheech" Hirano put home his second
goal in as many games to even the score. The physical play picked up
near the end of the period as Coach McCauley was blindsided by Josh
Bailey of the Wolfpack, leading to a scrum on the boards and a powerplay
for the Bombers. With seconds left in the period call-up Zack Rodgers
tallied a goal to give the Bombers the lead. The second frame saw the
Bombers start to put the pressure on, spending most of the period in
Abbotsford's end. Their hard work paid off at the 12 minute mark as
defenceman Jordan Dale came streaking down the wing and blasted a
slapshot clear past Wolfpack goalie Dean Skead. This was followed
moments later by call-up Ryan Loewen making smooth moves into the
offensive zone and sliding a low shot into the net. In the third the
Bombers sealed the deal with a top-corner sinpe by Pieter Rossouw and
rookie Matt Paivinen's first career goal. It was the physical antics
however that seemed to highlight the final period. McCauley and Bailey
once again found each other on the ice and each took 2 for roughing. By
the end of the frame Abbotsford appeared to give up trying for the win
and began looking to inflict some damage in other ways. Punches thrown
by Sam Long and an open ice charge by Bailey put the Wolfpack at a
5-on-3 disadvantage for the last three minutes of the game, with Bailey
subsequently being ejected. The final score: Bombers 6 - Wolfpack 3
Congratulations
to Matt Paivinen for his first goal as a Bomber. Thanks to Zack, Reimo
and Ryan for stepping up and contributing to a huge win. Highlights of
the night included Gareth Jones return to dominance in the CMCHL,
dangling around Wolfpack players in their own end for the majority of
the game, as well as Jon McCauley's toughness in drawing nearly 30
minutes in penalties from opposing players.
The 6-3 victory puts
the Bombers at 2-0 in this young season despite operating without a full
team. They should expect most players back next weekend as the Bombers
take on the CLA Hounds at 10:45 @ GEORGE PRESTON ARENA. Please note the change in venue as the Bombers WILL NOT be at Sportsplex next weekend. Directions can be found under the "Arena" tab on this site. Thanks again to all the faithful Bombers supporters who came out to watch, you guys rock!
BOMBERS BEAT MAYHEM IN OPENER
The Bombers 2010-2011 season started on Saturday night, and it couldn't
have started with a bigger challenge. The Bombers faced off against the
Uptown Mayhem, who are not only the defending CMCHL champions, but they
are also the team that knocked the Bombers out of the semi-finals last
season. The Bombers are starting arguably their biggest rebuilding
season, losing veterans David Giesbrecht, Paul Hilborn, Alex Pichler and
Rick Fairly, as well as stars Justin Vaughn, Jared Elenko, Brad
Dryburgh, and Vezna winning goalie Brandon McIlmoyle Needless to say
with only 14 spots filled on the team so far the Bombers would be pushed
to the limit in their first test.
Both teams came out quickly in the first, and the period drew to a close
with the score 0-0. The Bombers spent most of the first period playing
in their own end, and coach Jon McCauley urged his players to pick up
the pace during the intermission. The team heard him loud and clear and
came out flying in the second. Less than a minute in rookie Chris
"Cheech" Hirano potted his first goal as a Bomber in close on Mayhem
goalie Bobby Wraight. Two minutes later the Bombers were up 2-0 and
thrilling the countless Trinity fans in attendance. They Mayhem climbed
back to within one near the end of the third however, finally finding a
way through Daniel Gonzales. Gonzales had been an impenetrable wall
until that point, robbing the Mayhem of somewhere between 5-10 sure
goals. The third period opened with the teams competing on even terms
until another new addition, TWU Titans Hockey veteran Pieter Rossouw,
put home his first goals as a Bomber. The Mayhem answered back however
when the caught the Bombers on a quick break. Coming into the final
minutes Uptown started putting on the pressure, and with barely a minute
left in the period they tied up the score 3-3. As the players skated
back with their heads hung low, the chants slowly began to grow:
"...bombers, bombers, Bombers, Bombers, BOMBERS, BOMBERS!!!". The
tenacity of the crowed drew out new life in the team, and seconds later
newly appointed assistant captain Matt Hayes took a hard shot from the
left wing that cruised through the five-hole of a stunned Mayhem
tender. The Sportsplex stands erupted with elated Bombers supporters,
but the team quickly refocused to play out the dying seconds. In a
display of impressive defensive prowess the Bombers controlled the play
and with seconds left Jordan Dale charged through the Mayhem defense to
put home the empty net insurance marker making the final score 5-3.
The win puts the Bombers on a 1 game winning streak to start the season.
The Bombers will look to continue their winning ways next Saturday,
9:15 at Sportsplex versus the Abbotsford Wolf Pack (previously known as the CBC Wolverines). Congratulations to Hirano and Rossouw for their first career
goals in the CMCHL, as well as all the new Bombers for their impressive
play against the best team in the league. A special thanks to all the
fans who attended the Bombers season opener, without you this team would
not be what it is. Make sure to tell your friends to visit
www.twubombers.com for your official Bombers updates, game times, stats
and more.
All-Star Game
The CMCHL all-star game will occur Saturday, December 1 at 9:15. Four Bombers have been selected to represent the Campbell Conference - Jon Adams, Graeme Esau, Brock Grin and Philip Craig.End of Unbeaten Streak
November 24 - The Bombers' first loss of the season came at the hands of the Southgate Cyclones - the team that was the last to beat the Bombers way back on October 14, 2006. The Bombers' unbeaten streak ends at an impressive 406 days in which the Bombers went 25-0-3. The game ended in a 7-4 win for the Cyclones who move to 7-3-1 on the season. The Bombers fall to 9-1-1.A Romp
November 17 - The Bombers beat the Renegades in a romp, separating themselves from the rest of Campbell Conference. The team's division lead is now a full 6 points over the TWU Renegades. Gareth Jones' fifth shorthanded goal of the year stood up as the winner as the Bombers skated to a 7-1 victory.Bombers Win Again, 4-3
November 3 - In a battle of the league's two best teams, the Bombers came out on top, defeating the Renegades by a 4-3 score. The Bombers took a 4-1 lead into the third and managed to hold on in order to remain undefeated. The rematch will occur in two weeks time, as the league is given Remembrance Day weekend off.Cougars Get Owned
October 27 - The Bombers dominated the KCC Cougars from start to finish in a convincing 8-3 victory Saturday night. Two Bombers collected hatricks including Jon Adams, who scored a remarkable seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) to remain atop the CMCHL in league scoring. The win moves the Bombers to a 7-0-1 start, the best start in team history.Bombers Remain Unbeaten
October 20 - The Bombers are no longer perfect, but they remain unbeaten with a 6-6 tie against the KCC Cougars. The Bombers battled back from a two goal deficit to earn a point against the offensively talented Cougars. Colin Bandstra played his first game against the Bombers, finishing with no points and a couple penalty minutes under heavy attack from the Bomber fans.6-0
October 14 - The Silverbacks were handed their sixth loss of the season as the Bombers upheld their perfect record early Sunday morning. The Bombers are 6-0 on the heels of a convincing 10-2 victory over the Heritage Silverbacks in a hard fought game.Still Perfect
October 7 - The Bombers remained perfect with a 8-3 win over the Heritage Silverbacks. The win moves the Bombers to a record of 5-0 - the best start in the team's young history. The win moves the Bombers past the TWU Renegades into first place in the CMCHL's standings.Another Game, Another Win
September 29 - It wasn't pretty, but the Bombers got by the CLA Canucks Saturday night by a 5-4 score. The game remained tied late into the third period until Paul Hilborn blew a slap-shot by the Canuck goaltender with only 2:26 remaining. The Bombers now move to 4-0 on the season and remain unbeaten since October 14, 2006. Next up for the Bombers is the 0-4 Heritage Silverbacks late this Saturday night at 12:25 AM.Bombers Squeak by CLA
September 22 - A bench ripe with replacement players still got the job done for the Bombers, as the black and orange edged the CLA Canucks 4-2. The game remained close and spirited, with the Bombers sealing their victory with an empty net goal. Emotions ran high throughout the game, climaxing with a scuffle near the end of the third period resulting in a three game suspension for CLA Canuck goon Jeremy Vandermeer and a two game suspension for the Bomber's Brock Grin.2-0 Start to the Season
September 15 - The Bombers got by the CBC Wolverines Saturday night by a 8-5 score to move to 2-0 on the season. Jon Adams led the way for the Bombers, scoring four goals and adding a helper. The Bombers will face the CLA Canucks in their next two games, both at 11:10 PM. The Bombers have scored an impressive 16 goals in their first two games, taking it to the Wolverines in their two game set.Bombers Open With a Win
September 8 - In the season opener against the CBC Wolverines the Bombers looked strong, posting a well deserved 8-2 win. Even after a couple days of intense training camp the two days previous, the Bombers still outworked the Wolverines from CBC in front of a packed house at the Sportsplex. The two schools battle again this Saturday at 10:50.Bombers Season Opener
The Bombers open the 2007/2008 season this Saturday, September 8 against the CBC Wolverines. The first game of the year will take place at 11:10 at the Sportsplex.Opponent: CBC Wolverines
Date: Saturday, September 8
Time: 11:10 PM
Place: Sportsplex
What's at stake: Glory
Try-Outs
Try-outs for the 2007-2008 Bombers will be held on Thursday, September 6th at 11:45 PM and Friday, September 7th at 11:15 PM. Both try-out sessions will be held at the Sportsplex. Players need to attend both ice times unless they have an exceptional excuse. A small fee (probably about $10) will be needed to cover the try-outs.The results of the try-outs will be announced early Saturday morning. The 2007-2008 Bombers will be posted on the door of the Dugout (Douglas 107 - near the Mail Centre).
CMCHL News
Some new and interesting news from around the league.- Colin Bandstra, who has served the TWU Bombers for four seasons, has signed a one year contract with the KCC Cougars.
- The Heritage Silverbacks enter the CMCHL as the league's newest expansion team. The Silverbacks will play all of their regular season games this year at 12:25 AM.
- The Coquitlam Hitmen have changed their name to the CAC Warriors.
2007/2008 CMCHL Schedule Released
The schedule for the 2007/2008 CMCHL season has been released. The Bombers' schedule can be viewed in the Schedule selection of the website and the CMCHL schedule in its entirety can be downloaded HERE in Microsoft Excel form.Bombers Ink Jon McCauley to 1 Year Term
The NHL is not the only league with exciting free agent signings as of late. On Tuesday the Bombers agreed to terms with Jon McCauley on a one-year coaching contract for the 2007-2008 season. Terms of the deal were not released.Coming off a championship year with the Trinity Western University Bombers, locking up Jon McCauley was a no-brainer for the Bombers management. Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, it appears that both parties are extremely happy with the deal.
Growing up in the Merritt minor hockey system, McCauley learned the importance of what grit and heart bring to a hockey team. When asked about what values he hopes to instill in the Bombers hockey team, McCauley was quick to point to these two values. McCauley exclaimed, "Expect the 07-08 Bombers to be overflowing in heart and grit. Skill is not what we're looking for".
The 2007-2008 Bombers hockey club will finalize their rosters after try-outs in September. After which, they will once again fight and battle for the CMCHL holy grail.
Downloadable Stats now Available
Visit the Statistics page to download Bombers stats from the past three seasons.BOMBERS WIN THE CUP!
March 31 - For the second time in three years, the Bombers captured the CMCHL's holy grail. Heart and determination prevailed in the Bombers' 9-1 victory over the KCC Cougars on Saturday night. The game remained close and tense until the Bombers exploded for 5 quick goals in the second period. Those 5 goals broke the 1-1 tie and gave the team a comfortable margin heading into the third period. The Bombers added 3 more in the third to secure 'The Cup'.
Bombers Going to the Championship!
March 25 - For the third straight year the Bombers will play in the CMCHL Championship. The team is heading to the final thanks to a gritty 2-1 victory over the Southgate Cyclones in the semi-final. Questionable calls including two disallowed goals was adversity that the Bombers battled through on their way to victory. Rosenau and Esau provided the goals, while Matt Dykstra proved his MVP merit, stopping the high powered Cyclone offense. Bomber heart was no doubt the key for victory in this matchup.In the other semi-final matchup, the KCC Cougars upset the #1 ranked TWU Renegades by a score of 10-2. The Cougars and Bombers will meet in the CMCHL final Saturday, March 31 at 8:00. The Cougars hope to repeat what the Avalanche did last year in their cinderella run to the CMCHL championship. The Bombers won both meetings during the year by scores of 3-2 and 5-0 respectively. The Bombers won the CMCHL championship in 2005 by beating the 23-1-0 PCC Desert Dogs by a 3-2 score. In 2006 the Bombers were upset in the final by the Willingdon Avalanche 3-2 in a disappointing loss. The Bombers will attempt to win their second CMCHL championship and return to glory on March 31.
Bombers Move on to Round 2
March 17 - The Trinity Western University Bombers have advanced to the CMCHL semi-finals thanks to a decisive 10-1 victory over the Coquitlam Hitmen in the quarter final matchup. The Bombers came out hard from the start of the game and never relinquished their early lead. Ten different Bombers figured in on the scoring while four boasted 3-point nights.The Bombers (16-2-3) will face the Southgate Cyclones (15-5-1) in round two (Saturday, March 24 at 9:30 PM). The Cyclones and Bombers split the 2006-2007 season series at one game apiece. Southgate handed the Bombers their most recent loss way back on October 14 by a 4-1 score. The Bombers won the rematch game 5-3 on January 27. The Cyclones and Bombers also met in last year's playoffs, with the Bombers prevailing 5-3 in the quarter-final game. This year's other semi final matchup will see the top seeded Renegades face seventh seeded KCC Cougars who upset the PCC Desert Dogs in the first round.
First Round Matchups Set
March 12 - The third seeded TWU Bombers (15-2-3) will face the sixth seed Coquitlam Hitmen (6-12-2) in the first round of the CMCHL playoffs. The Bombers won both meetings during the year by 10-3 and 8-2 scores. Coquitlam and TWU will play Saturday, March 17 at 10:45 PM at the Langley Sportsplex.Other first round matchups include the TWU Renegades facing the Willingdon Avalanche, the PCC Desert Dogs battling the KCC Cougars, and the Southgate Cyclones playing the Uptown Mayhem.
Bombers Close out Season with a Tie
March 10 - The two best teams in the CMCHL met Saturday night and battled to a 2-2 draw. The TWU Renegades (16-1-3) head into the playoffs as the league's top team. The Bombers (15-2-3) boast the league's second best record. With the tie, the Bombers move their undefeated streak to an unprecedented 15 games (13 wins, 2 ties).Bombers Win Their 15th
March 3 - For the third straight year, the Bombers have recorded a 15 win season. This win came at the expense of the CBC Wolverines by a 3-1 score. Freshman Russ Bartel led the Bombers by scoring twice and adding an assist. The final regular season of the game is March 10 against the TWU Renegades.Bombers Take Care of Hitmen
Feb 17 - A solid effort by all three lines produced a convincing 8-2 win over the Coquitlam Hitmen. Eleven different Bombers figured in on the scoring as the Bombers continue to roll with their eleventh straight win. Coquitlam scored their first goal in the second period, ending the Bombers shut-out streak at 124 minutes, 35 seconds.The Bombers Continue to Roll
Feb 10 - With Saturday night's 5-0 win over the KCC Cougars, the Bombers now ride a 10 game winning streak, 12 game unbeaten streak, and a 2 game shutout streak. Matt Dykstra and the Bombers have not allowed a goal in their last 107 minutes and 54 seconds of play. With the win, the Bombers improve their record to 13-2-2 with 3 regular season games left to play. Next up for the black and orange is the Coquitlam Hitmen on February 17.Bombers Clinch a Playoff Berth
Feb 3 - The Bombers clinched a spot in the CMCHL playoffs with a 4-0 shutout win over the Willingdon Avalanche. The win was the second shutout of the season for the Bombers, as Matt Dykstra continued to drop his league-best goals against average. Colin Bandstra led the Bombers, scoring one goal and adding two assists.Unbeaten in 10
Jan 27 - The Bombers came back from a 3-1 deficit Saturday night to beat the Southgate Cyclones 5-3 in the team's eighth straight win and their tenth without a loss. Graeme Esau tied the game early in the third period with his 50th goal as a Bomber. And with less than four minutes remaining in the game, Gareth Jones scored on a shorthanded breakaway to notch his team-leading fourth game winning goal. The Bombers face the defending CMCHL champions next week at 9:15.Bombers Take Down PCC
Jan 20 - In a penalty filled game, the Bombers outworked Pacific Community Church, beating the Desert Dogs 3-1 in a rematch of the 2005 final. The Bombers improve their record to 10-2-2 and remain undefeated in the last nine games. The last five games have seen the Bombers outscore their opponents by a combined score of 36-4. Matt Dykstra played extremely solid, improving his league best goals against average to 2.20.The next game for the Bombers is against the Southgate Cyclones who were the last team to defeat the Bombers way back on October 14.
The Streak Remains Alive
Jan 13 - Although they were without the services of five of their players, the Bombers came through with a win over the North Delta Knights. It was the sixth win in a row for the team and the third straight 7-1 win. Jon Adams led the way with 4 goals and a helper. The game remained scoreless until late in the second period when the Bombers scored 4 goals in the final 4:30 of the period. The next game promises to be a fierce competitive battle as the Bombers face the 9-2-1 PCC Desert Dogs at 10:45.2007 Bomb Squad Hall of Fame Inductees!
The first three inductees into the Bomb Squad Hall of Fame have been decided. Click on the Bomb Squad Hall of Fame page to see the inductees. Make yourself a 2008 inductee by nominating yourself or someone you know. twubombers@gmail.com
Player Profile!
Go to The Team link in order to see Colin Bandstra's player profile.
5 in a Row
Dec. 9 - The Bombers won their fifth consecutive game and their seventh without a loss Saturday against the Uptown Mayhem. The team won 7-1 and heads into the Christmas break on a season high winning streak. The Bombers coninued their recent domination, outscoring their opponents in the last three games by a score of 26-2.
The CMCHL All-Star game goes December 16 at the Langley Sportsplex. The next regular season game for the surging Bombers is not till January 13, 2007 at 10:45 PM.
All-Stars
Captain Jon Adams, Colin Bandstra, and Justin Penner will represent the Bombers at the 2006 CMCHL All-Star Game on December 16. The All-Star game will be held at the Langley Sportsplex at 9:15 PM.Another Big Win
Dec. 2 - The Bombers won again Saturday night with a big 7-1 win over the CLA Canucks. It is the sixth regular season game in a row for the Bombers without a loss. In that six game stretch the team has outscored their opponents by a combined score of 43-12. The Bombers look to continue their streak into the Christmas break December 9 against the Uptown Mayhem.
Bombers take it to CBC
Nov 25 - The Bombers had their most convincing win of the season Saturday night against the CBC Wolverines. A season high 12 goals paced the Bombers to a shutout victory. Defencman John Morrison played in goal and stopped all the shots he faced. Bombers' goaltender Matt Dykstra played his first game outside of the crease and contributed with a goal.
Bombers Hold on for Win
Nov 18 - A last minute goal by the KCC Cougars that cut the Bombers' lead to 3-2 struck fear into the many fans that packed the Sportsplex Saturday night. However, the Bombers prevailed, holding on in the last minute for a big 3-2 win. Call-up goaltender Matt Fattigan was sharp when he needed to be, holding the Cougars to just two goals. Captain Jon Adams led the Bombers with a goal and two helpers. Jon Higgins notched the winner in only his second game in a Bombers uniform.
Thank you Fans
For those fans who made the trip to Abbotsford Tuesday night, it was much appreciated. You guys were loud and proud, which inspired the Bombers. Luckily enough, the team was able to provide the fans with an exciting 3-2 victory over the CBC Wolverines. Expect another exhibition game against CBC sometime next semester (in Langley this time).
Road Game in Abbotsford!
Tuesday, November 14 will see witness to the Bombers' first ever road game. The Bombers will make the short trek to Abbotsford to take on the CBC Wolverines. Come out and do the Bomb Squad proud against CBC and their fans. Go Bombers Go. The game will take place at 10:00 at the MSA Arena. To get there from TWU, follow these directions:
Take Highway 1 heading East
EXIT at Clearbrook Road (Exit 87)
Turn RIGHT on Clearbrook Road (NORTH)
Turn RIGHT on Peardonville Road
Turn RIGHT on Emerson Road
End at 2323 Emerson Road (MSA Arena)
Huge Output in Bombers win
Nov 4 - The offense of the Bombers struck early and struck often in Saturday night's 10-3 win against the Coquitlam Hitmen. The Bombers took an early 4-1 first period lead and never looked back. The huge win moves the Bombers to a 4-2-2 record to head into the Remembrance Day break. The Bombers play an exhibition game November 14 in Abbotsford against CBC. More details are located in the Schedule link.
Dissapointing tie vs. Mayhem
Oct 28 - A last minute goal by the Uptown Mayhem turned a win into a tie for the Bombers Saturday night. The Bombers gave up a 5-2 lead and settled with a dissapointing 5-5 tie.
Bombers win championship rematch
Oct 21 - In a game that featured last year's CMCHL finalists, the Bombers prevailed in a solid 6-1 defeat of the Willingdon Avalance. Matt Dykstra held the Avalanche to just a lone goal while Esau, Jones, Penner, Grin, Rosenau, and Witten provided the offence. Excellent last minute coaching skills were also provided by Dale Baumgartner!
Bombers take part in Fall Workday
The Bombers took part in the annual TWU Fall Workday on Saturday, October 21st. The event was a huge success which involved blessing a local church, The King's Community Church, by cleaning gutters, trim back brush, clearing pathways and shoveling six yards of pea gravel into a kid's playground area.
Bomber Invitational in Mars' Hill
The first Bomber Invitational was recaped in the latest issue of the TWU student paper the Mars' Hill. Check out the online article entitled "Bombers raid the golf course".
Bombers fall to Cyclones
Oct 14 - Saturday's game was an intense match against the Southgate Cyclones. After encountering some penalty trouble, the Bombers found themselves in a 4-1 hole that they could not climb out of. This loss moves the Bombers to 2-2-1.
Bombers tie PCC
Oct 7 - The Bombers came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the PCC Desert Dogs 2-2 Saturday night. The tie moves the Bombers' record to 2-1-1.
Bombers win 6-1
Sep 30 - The Bombers won their second game in a row with a decisive 6-1 victory over expansion team, North Delta Knights. The win along with the morning golf tournament made Saturday an incredible day for the TWU Bombers.
First Bombers Invitational
Sep 30 - The First Annual Bombers Invitational was held Saturday, September 30 and met with great popularity and success. Great outfits and terrible golfers were the focus of Saturday morning's event.
Scott Spiro won the best dressed contest with his outfit (pictures are soon to come). He was also lucky enough to win the draw for 2 Cancucks tickets. What a guy.
Rookie Bomber Brock Grin highlighted the day with a hole-in-one. A truly incredible shot from a truly incredible defenceman.