Bombers Lose Controversial Final

In what was scheduled to be a best 2 out of 3 Spring League Finals extravaganza, turned out to be a truncated winner take all one game battle. The Bombers, ever the sportsmen agreed to the lopped off set at the request of a tired Smoke squad. "They were going to give us the championship via forfeit, but that's not our style. They suggested a one game final and we took them up on the offer." said Bomber Capt, Bill Auld.

And boy oh boy did that decision look to be a problem from the first drop of the puck. The Smoke were on fire, jumping out to a 5-1 early second period lead. Perhaps the Bombers were feeling the effects of missing their standout defenseman, Superstar Johnny Z. But Bomber Sniper, Mark Bochner who welcomed his new baby boy Spencer just a few days prior summed it up more simply "We just didn't look good to start the game. We are better than that."

So it looked as if the Bombers would get blown out in the final, with no chance at a game two or three. In a last ditch effort, Bombers injured forward and current bench coach Tony D'anna switched up the linuep, moving Bill Auld to foward and Mark Poltorak to D. "Bill was rushing the puck and leaving the D open anyway, so why not move him up. Mark was the most qualified forward to move back. I thought, why not?"



The move paid dividends right away as Bill was paired with Jean Eric' Hoyer and Rober' Auld. Poltorak bolstered the D and which allowed only 1 goal for the remainder of the game. Hoyer would score three more after the lineup shuffle and Bill would tally one of his own. The line would have 7 points altogether on the evening. A goal by Mark Bochner would bring the Bombers to within a goal at 6-5 late in the third. "I think if had five more minutes we would have won by two" said Hoyer'. But they didn't have five more minutes and the early hole the Bombers put themselves in meant that the 8th championship in their storied history would have to wait for another season.

The game was cleanly played by the two teams who have both been around the NJ Adult Ice hockey seen for nearly 20 years.

So the team will regroup in the Summer and get ready for the long Fall/Winter season.

History may be made . . . will you be there!