Injury-plagued Klippers drop two games to Flin Flon

By Jordan Parker
Your Southwest Media Group

The SJHL Showcase left the Kindersley Klippers roster bumped and bruised.

Seven of their players were unavailable over the weekend due to injury and one suspension, leading to two losses to the Flin Flon Bombers.

Goalie Brett Sweet and the Klippers may have defeated the Bombers on October 5, but this weekend saw them get blanked during the first weekend tilt 4-0.

“In the showcase last week, it was my first win in the SJHL. Things didn’t go as well on Friday. We had a couple tough bounces that resulted in goals and some mental errors,” said Sweet.

“We played a strong game, and we were all over them in the first period. But as the game went on, Flin Flon ganged up on us. They don’t let off the gas as a team.”

He says their tenacity makes the Bombers a difficult team to play against.

“They finish every check and don’t give up. It’s the way they’re coached, and even if they’re ahead on the score board, they keep going,” he said.

“They make you fight the entire game. It’s hard to play against them physically and mentally.”

Matthew Mazzochi was suspended for his hit from behind, and players Jaxon Georget, Austin Lamotte, Ethan King, Ryan Jessey, Hunter Larocque, and Ethan Mack were all out.

“We had a lot of injuries on the weekend, and we had to actually move a D-man to play forward,” said Sweet.

It was special teams that Sweet said needed more work, an issue that has plagued the Klippers early in the season.

“We need to stay out of the box. We keep taking offensive zone penalties we don’t need to take,” said Sweet.

He himself had a Delay Of Game penalty on Friday, which was incurred after he went behind his net to grab his stick, but the puck came back into the Klippers zone. Facing two attacking Flin Flon players, he covered the puck behind the net, leading to a whistle.

“You can’t do that and I understood that. When I talk about us staying out of the box, I’m part of that group,” he said.

Assistant Coach Mitch Topinka says the missing players was a huge factor in the outcome on the weekend.

“It wasn’t an ideal situation, but that’s adversity that we’re going to have to deal with. There are some hurt shoulders and concussion issues,” he said.

“The guys haven’t played in a year. They aren’t used to this kind of contact. If you don’t have a few injuries, you’re not playing hard or tough enough.”

Topinka said if they had their full lineup, he feels they wouldn’t have been outscored like that.

“We wanted those four points, or a chance to split points. I don’t think the outcomes from the weekend would have happened that way,” he said.

“We have some big games coming up, and our record is 3-6. We aren’t that hockey team, and we need to pick it up,” he said.

Centre Noah Lindsay has recorded six points in nine games this season, and said it was a tough weekend. But he sees a bright chance.

“It gives other guys an opportunity to fill roles they necessarily wouldn’t be in with a healthy roster. They can prove themselves,” he said.

“We need to focus on consistency, and with a lot of young guys in the line-up, we have to come prepared to play 60 minutes. Even though the weekend was tough, it was a confidence booster too because there were periods where we controlled play. Everybody’s excited for the guys to get back.”

Photo courtesy Kindersley Klippers. Noah Lindsay