Lapinksi Gets the Call-up

Bomber defenseman, Adam Lapinksi made a surprise visit to the greater NJ area and laced up the skates for a game with the storied franchise.  "Nice!!" was the collective response to the news in the Bomber locker room.  Adam, now chasing perps in crime ridden Ocean City, Maryland says his goal is to be just like his hero, Bomber Legend , Sargent Dave Smith.  He didn't really say that but I mean, its pretty much obvious.  Both cops, both highly skilled defenseman, both avid Devil's fans .

After a disappointing first loss of the season to the tricky Mulligans, the Bombers quickly righted the ship with the 5-2 victory over Powertime.  The excitement of the Lapinski call up kept the Bombers on their toes as the had to think quickly to recover from the many turnovers he committed.  "I think he was just trying to keep us alert." said Josh Burke.

The captain had hat trick and one assist on the evening and John Zimnoch and Drew Campbell had a goal apiece. The two defensemen Zimnoch & Campbell were perhaps motivated by the presence of legendary Bomber stalwart defenseman,  Mike "The Pincher" Gilbert, Sr who came to watch the evenings festivities.  Campbell, who was meeting Sr. for the first time said "He should play now. Even with time off he's gotta be better than Lundeen."

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:
As chosen by his excellency "The Pincher"

First Star:  Johnny Zimnoch 1g1a

Second Star:  Bill Auld 3g1a















Third Star:  Kyle Kappmeier

Game notes:

Rober' Auld donned his second season BSA white jersey for the game in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Bombers first game on 11/22/1993.  

And finally, does this guy look like someone who chases down pedophiles or is a pedophile?  

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BOMBERS

11/22/1993. Monday evening-10:45 pm. 

A moment in time some 20 years ago.  On that night the Bombers would assemble for the very first time, stepping out onto the newly minted ice surface of the Bridgewater Sports Arena donning their league issued grey jerseys.   Their first goal was scored by the spry and savvy Mike Gilbert, Sr.  As most who were there would remember the goal came off a blistering, high rising slapshot to the top shelf.  The score?  An 8-2 victory over the Monarchs. 

Most of the players knew but one or two others on the team when the league issued them a name a roster, and a schedule and sent them on their way.  Since then the Bombers have played in 753 more games against more than 100 different teams scoring over 3000 goals and winning 7 league championships.  They have raised more than $50,000 for charity and skated in presence of the Stanley Cup.  But most importantly they fostered a camaraderie among their ranks while building lasting friendships as their roster has grown.  Old friends and new who understand that once you are a Bomber you will always be a Bomber and as such you will forever be linked to “the most storied franchise in NJ adult ice hockey history.” 

A tip of the hat to all past, present and future Bombers.  

Bombers Fall to Mulligans

Bombers lose 6-3 to the Mulligans.  End of story.

OUT-MANNED BUT NOT OUT-GUNNED

Bombers knock off Shamrocks 8-6 to maintain 1st place & undefeated record

By Bomber Hockey Beat Writer

Sure, if you were in the stands at the Wednesday night game between the Bomber Hockey Club and Shamrocks, picking a winner based on a quick glance at the benches would have been easy. On one side, there was only one line of forwards and D with just one sub for each, while on the other, they could barely fit all the guys on the bench. Game over, right? 

Well, as we've come to see from the Bombers, you can never count them out, even with just 7 skaters.

In what was one of the most exciting AIAHL games this season, the Bombers managed to keep their cool and come back from a significant hole of 4-1 in the second period.  Five different Bombers combined for a total of 8 goals, each of which came at critical points in the game.

The game was close throughout the first period  but the Shamrocks managed to pull away in the second. Could it have been tired legs on the Bomber bench? Sure, and no one would fault them for it, but the team pulled together with scrappy play and fought for every inch of the ice in the 2^nd and 3rd. With goals from the captain, JZ, Jean Eric Hoyer, and DC, the Bombers were able to creep up on the Shamrocks, managing to tie the game  at several points in the second and third.

The Shamrocks, however, weren’t giving the goals up lightly. Physical play was dished out with each side volleying hit for hit. But the turning point in the game came with about 8 minutes left in the third period.  Carrying the puck deep into the Shamrocks’ zone, the Bombers were able to get the biscuit out to the point to Lundeen, who pinched in from the blue line and positioned himself for a great shot from just outside the circle.  Seeing the play develop, Bomber forward Kappmeier went to the crease to screen the Shamrock goaltender and give Lundeen’s shot a better chance at finding the back of the net.

“Lundeen’s been on fire as of late, and all our defensemen have been putting lasers on net from the blue line,” said Kappmeier. “I went to get in the goalie’s face, but the shot was teed up perfectly for a deflection. I was able to get my blade on it, and deflect it right over his glove.  It was a critical turning point for the guys as we finally took the lead.”

Kappmeier’s goal put the Bombers up 7-6 and from there, the organization battened down the hatches against the Shamrock squad who kept coming.

“Smart hockey,” said Bomber captain and general manager, Billy Auld. “We knew what we had to do – watch the clock, keep an eye on your man and get the puck out of our zone.”

With the Bomber defense clearing the puck out of their zone,  Kappmeier saw an opportunity develop for a breakaway and took off only to be interfered and tripped as he approached center ice. The right call was made, but not in the eyes of the guilty Shamrock who was awarded 2 minutes for tripping and a game misconduct for giving the referees a piece of his well-mannered mind.

An opportunity that was never had in the game up to this point, the Bombers went on the powerplay with the lead, and increased that by two with a goal from #27, Jean Eric, who is no stranger on the score sheet.

The Bombers take sole possession of 1^st place in the Federal Division of the AIAHL and face the Shamrocks’ second squad, The Mulligans on 11/18. 

State Electric Power Performers of the Game

1st Star: Kyle Kappmeier 1G (GWG)

2nd Star: Billy Auld 2G / 6A

 3rd Star: Jean Eric Hoyer 2G / 2A

Bombers Defeat Powertime

It wasn't vintage MC Hammer-time  but a 4-2 victory over Powertime enabled the Bombers to stay undefeated with a 3-0 record.  'Jean' Eric Hoyer' had 2 goals and 1 assist .  Tony D'anna and Scott Lundeen had the organization's other two scores and 9 Bomber skaters got points in the victory. 

State Electric Power Performers of the Game

1st Star: 'Jean' Eric Hoyer 2g 1 a

2nd Star: Josh Burke

3rd Star: Tony D'anna 1g

Bombers Come Back v Comeback Kids

A four goal third period enabled the Bombers to come away with a 7-5 victory on Tuesday vs the Comeback Kids.  The blueliners proved stellar for the Bombers scoring 4 of the 7 goals.  Scott Lundeen launched 2 well crafted shots for goals to help his team and  Dave Smith scored his 2nd in two games.  Drew Campbell was impressive on the D line moving back from left wing and scoring a goal of his own.  

The Bombers found themselves down 4-2 in the second until a late tally from Lundeen late brought his squad back into the mix.  The third period was one to remember for the storied franchise as Smith, Lundeen, Junior and Campbell pummeled the opposing net with scores giving the Bombers a 2-0 record on the season and first place in the Federal league standings.

Next up for the Bombers-a date with the newly formed Powertime.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st Star: Drew Campbell 1g 1a





















2nd Star:  Scott Lundeen 2g

3rd Star:  Dave Smith 1g