Day 6 at the 2022 Centennial Cup was one of extreme highs for one of the SJHL clubs, and one of extreme lows for the other.
The Flin Flon Bombers put together a terrific team performance Tuesday, as a Jacob Vockler power-play goal in the first period, and two beautiful finishes in the shootout lifted the club to 2-1 victory over the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Dauphin Kings.
Jaeden Mercier beat star Kings’ goaltender Carson Cherepak in the first shot of the skills competition with a gorgeous inside-out move, and then Vockler made his mark again with a sweet finish five-hole on the Bombers’ last shot.
Cal Schell stopped 26 of 27 shots in regulation and overtime, and two of three in the shootout to preserve the victory for the Centennial Cup’s SJHL participants.
The win clinches at least third in the group, and a spot in a quarterfinal for the Bombers, who close out the preliminary round with a record of one win, two overtime wins, and one loss.
The Estevan Bruins had to wait and watch after their victory over the Red Lake Miners on Monday.
They had to have one of two things go their way Tuesday, but neither worked out, as the Brooks Bandits defeated the Pickering Panthers in the noon game, and College Francais beat the Red Lake Miners in the late contest.
Estevan has one more game to play, Wednesday evening against the Bandits. Puck drops at 7:30 P.M. local on the Hockey Canada stream.
