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

Bombers Rout Aces

The Bombers last contest before facing the Flying Aces in the Fall debut was one where they were shellacked 10-1 by the Comeback Kids in the Summer playoffs.  This night, the Bombers were on the other end of a thumping and defeated a depleted Aces team by a 9-0 score.  The game marked the return of Bomber Bobby Calvano, who had not seen regular action in many a season.  Calvano scored in his return.

Other Bomber scorers included Dave Smith.  The stay at home defensemen was moved up to forward for the third period and it didn't take him long to score.  John Zimnoch netted a goal and Bill Auld, Jean Eric and Drew Campbell each scored 2.  Rober' had 3 assists.  Newcomer Tim Tracy notched his first Bomber point, an assist.  Scott Lundeen and Kyle Kappmeier rounded out the scoresheet with helpers of their own. 

Josh Burke was solid in goal and notched his 8th career Bomber shutout-a category he leads along with career wins 125. 

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

First Star #20 Bob Calvano 1assist and a sight for sore eyes

Second Star  #29 Josh Burke- shutout-nuff said!

Third Stars #14&#0 The Auld Boys  combined 2goals and 6assists

Post Lupe' Era Starts Ominously

Well, that was fun.  The Bombers got throttled 10-1 in Round 1 of the Federal league playoffs, losing to the now pesky Comeback Kids.  The Kids utilized 10 different goal scorers en route to the rout.  "We need to get some of our core guys back on the squad and get our numbers up." comment goaltender Josh Burke.  The Bomber GM is vigorously working to set up next season's roster-expect some familiar faces in the Winter season. 

!AdiosMi Amigo!

 

42 Goals  37 Assists 79 Points 129 Penalty Mins in 117 Games Played

That's the stat line . . . so far.  But that hardly tells the story of one Mark "Lupe" Poltorak.

Our little Lupe is off to the wild, wild, west and in the process leaves behind a group of teammates and fans who will surely miss their fellow Conquistador.  A midseason call up in the winter of 2011, Mark, not yet having earned his nickname, scored 2 goals in a 7-3 thrashing of the Puck Pimps.  He finished that season with 12 points in 12 games and a healthy 14 minutes in penalties.  He also finished the season with the nickname Lupe'-an obvious reference to the mustachioed mug of the up and coming wunderkind.  Lupe' is single handedly credited for the immense surge in popularity of the Bombers with the Latin American fanbase that coincided with his arrival on the scene.

Perhaps Polotorak's proudest accomplishment is that he also finished his Bomber tenure with a title that can only be earned through the admiration of his teammates and the Bomber faithful alike.  That title of course is being referred to as "True Bomber"-which most certainly he is.

Adios mi amigo!

 

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In other unrelated news, a surprising scene played out at the Bomber training facility when government officials arrived  and began questioning management, staff and players.  "It's really kinda strange.  We have not been told what they are looking for but by the content of their inquiries it looks as if its some kind of immigration issue.  We will cooperate of course but I don't see a connection to our squad " said Bomber captain Bill Auld.

                                                           (Run Lupe, Run!!!!)