Don't Forget Sunday's Charity Hockey Classic!!

Bomber Offense Explodes-D Lead the Way

In what can only be termed a dominating performance, the Bombers defeated the 1st place Whalers 7-3 to advance to the B3 North Championship Finals and avenge a earlier 7-2 playoff loss. The defense led the way, scoring 4 of the seven goals-2 apiece from Brian Kostrowski and John Zimnoch. The first three goals of a 6 goal second period Bomber onslaught were scored by the duo, including a dynamic one timer by Kostrowski and a jaw dropping breakaway by Zimnoch.

"It was a complete game for us." said Bomber center Bob Calvano. "Although I wasn't comfortable until the final whistle, the victory was really never in doubt." added Mike Gilbert, Jr. Two shorthanded goals in 48 seconds by Bill Auld and John Zimnoch were the dagger in the heart of the proud Whaler franchise who averaged only 2.7 goals against the entire season. "Those shorties put us up 6-2 and seem to deflate them a bit." said Auld. A true statement indeed since the Whale hoped to cut the deficit to 1 with the power play opportunity. Instead the Bombers were up by 4 and they never looked back.

Mike Gilbert, Jr and Bob Calvano also got in the mix scoring 1g1a and 1g2a respecitvely. The return of the "Real Neil" on defense allowed the Bombers to go with a 5 man rotation which curtailed a Whaler offense that scored 7 against them earlier in the playoffs. Josh Burke frustrated the powerhouse Whaler forwards to continue his impressive playoff run.

The return of the Mark "Andre Cheesy Gordita Gomez Chalupa Potpurri Man of 1000 Nicknames" Poltorak to the linuep only managed a point on the night. The ratio of nicknames to points looks to improve as the playoffs continue.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:
1st Star:


Brian Kostrowski 2g and the penalty that yeilded 2 shorthanded goals
2nd Star:

John Zimnoch 2g

3rd Star:


Mike Gilbert, Jr 1g1a

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
Zimnoch (18,19)
Kostrowski (6,7)
B.Auld (13)
Gilbert, Jr (11)
Calvano (4)

Assists:
Calvano-2
B.Auld-2
Jr
Poltorak
Hoyer'

D'anna Out with Upper Body Injury

The Bombers will have to forge ahead without the skills of Tony D'anna as they attempt to advance to the finals of the BSA winter championships. The veteran left winger is suffering an undisclosed upper body injury that will keep him out of the lineup for 7-10 days. "Rest is what the doctor ordered. Rest and advil". noted a disappointed D'anna.

The loss of D'anna means the anticipated return of Neil Van Der horn to Sunday's lineup couldnt come at a better time. "It's unfortunate to lose D'anna but Ulfie will make sure we don't miss a beat" said bomber capt Bill Auld.

So come out to see your favorite team fight for a finals championship playoff birth this Sunday at 8:25pm.

Burke Shut Out Propels Bombers

The lure of another championship for NJ ice hockey's most storied franchise is still alive after goaltender Josh Burke shut down and shut out a hard charging veteran laden Smoke team bent on getting through to the next round.

The hard fought game was won by a 2-0 score off two tallies by Bomber sniper Jean Eric Hoyer. "I was happy with the way our team played." said the Bomber GM. "We were sound in all zones and Burkey saved our bacon when we did make mistakes." Josh Burke was able to see through a wealth of Smoke bodies in front of the net to stop pucks that inferior netminders might never see. Hoyer', the game's 2nd star on the evening commented "It looked like their plan was to put a lot of bodies in front and work from the corners. Our D did a good job of clearing out some space."

The game was just one of many for the two "Original" BSA franchises founded in 1993. The Smoke won the first contest between the two clubs- a 4-3 victory that marked the first loss in Bomber history back on November 29, 1993. In a classy gesture many Smoke players took time to personally welcome back Rober, who was spry 48 year old center during their first meeting, from his time on the long term disabled list.

The win propelled the Bombers within one game of the final best of three series and they await their semifinal opponent who will be the loser of the Whaler v Shamrocks game.


State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st Star:



Josh Burke -Shutout Victory (2nd of this year's playoffs)


2nd Star:


Jean Eric Hoyer' 2 goals

3rd Star:


Jeff Bowser
Bomber Box Score:

Goals:Hoyer' (35,36)

Assists:

D.Bochner
Zimnoch
Calvano

Whalers Send Bombers to Losers Bracket

The Bombers looked poised to knock the first place Whalers down to the losers bracket of the double elimination playoffs with an early 2nd period 2-1 lead. Six goals against later and it was the Bombers who find themselves at the brink of elimination in the bottom bracket.

"Um, we played well early. Not so much later on." was a frequent comment heard outside the Bomber locker room. As a result of the loss the Bombers will face the winner of the Smoke v Spartans contest on Wednesday at 9:45.

The best part about the game was from our scouting department noted the Bomber GM. "Mark Bochner informed us that he and his wife Heather are expecting a new Bomber sometime this summer. That's good news for the longterm stability of this organization!"

Congrats Mark and Heather.


Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
D'anna (7)
Hoyer (34)

Assists:
Gilbert, Jr
D.Bochner
M. Bochnervanderhorn

Rober' Return & Sr's Support Spark Bomber Playoff Shutout

How did the Bombers keep this story away from all the major media markets? Maybe the anticipation of the first round of the playoffs acted as a distraction but no one in the arena was prepared for the return of #14. That's right, not yet three months removed from the heart attack Rober' Auld returned to the lineup poised to help the Bombers during their playoff run. "I didn't tell anyone. We kept it a secret. Bill and I skated on Wednesday to get ready and here we are. I'm glad we won." Asked about how it felt to be out there Rober' added "I felt really good."



Rober's return as well as that of another familiar face who came by to support the club as only he can, provided the organization a much needed spark. Although not ready to don the skates just yet, Mike Gilbert Sr provided a bench presence that helped the Bombers navigate their way to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Spartans. When asked about his injury Sr could only say "Its not improving as well as I'd like and I'll eventually need surgery but I will be there for the Devil Alumni game!" That is good news indeed. The Bombers, once thought to be without their two most experienced and veteran members, will now be able to field the team they hoped for when the take the ice versus the Devils Alumni.

Oh, yeah-there was a game to talk about too on Tuesday. The Bombers weathered a sloppy first period by shutting out the Spartans by a 4-0 score. Josh Burke was solid in net with his new gear stopping all 30+ shots on net for his first shutout of the season. The biggest goal of the night came in the third period when Bobby Calvano won an offensive zone draw chipped it to Tony D'anna who chipped it back to Calvano. #20 then dove over both D'anna and the Spartan defenseman and with a Vanderhorn-esque backhand shot gave the Bombers a 3-0 lead. The goal effectively ended the Spartan chances and relieved the heavy pressure the were applying to get back in the game.

Eric Hoyer's 2 goals and Jeff Bowser breakaway tally rounded out the evening's scoring.

And Mike Gilbert Jr is a no talent "ring losing rink deconstructing oh wait not really ring losing" ass clown.

Game Notes:
*Burke's shutout was his first since an August 23, 2010 contest vs the Puck Pimps.
*Dave Bochner scored an assist in his return to the lineup for the first time since an ankle injury sidelined him on Feb 9th.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st Star:



Rober' Auld -back in action-nuff said


2nd Star:



Josh Burke- Shutout and sweet new look


3rd Star:


Bobby Calvano- 1g and a great big snow filled smile



Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

Jean Eric Hoyer (32,33)
Calvano (3)
Bowser (1)

Assists:
D'anna
Jr
D. Bochner

It's One For* All . . .

Bombers Provide No Shelter for the Storm

The Storm came into Wednesday's Bomber season finale scoring 15 goals in their previous three contests. A veritable downpour of scoring. But a drizzle was all they could muster against a impressive Bomber squad that handed defeat to the Storm by serving up a 5-2 Bomber victory.

"Hey, we played solid tonight. Only for a few minutes in the second did we not play well." noted the night's first star recipient Tony D'anna. D'anna opened the scoring 20 seconds into the contest and followed that up with 2 assists on the subsequent 4 Bomber tallies. Eric Hoyer notched his 30th and 31st goals of the season while Bill Auld and John Zimnoch rounded out the Bomber scoring.

The game was penalty free until a slight disagreement between Bill Auld and some guy on the Storm who was not on the approved roster got matching penalties with 5:49 remaining. A minor penalty for each team followed but yielded no goals from either of the imposing (not) power play units.



So the Bombers finish the regular season with a 14-10 record and 4th place in the 11 team league. Playoffs begin the week of March 15th. Ticket packages for the first round are on sale at the Bomber Box office.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st Star:



#33 Tony D'anna 1g 2a

2nd Star:



Jean Eric Hoyer 2g

3rd Star



Bobby Calvano 2a

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
Hoyer (30,31)
D'anna (6)
B.Auld (12)
Zimnoch (17)

Assists:
D'anna-2
Calvano-2
B.Auld
Gilbert Jr
Bowser
Zimnoch