Flin Flon Bombers

Early years

The Bombers date back to 1927. Their trademark colours are maroon and white. The team originally played at the Flin Flon Community Club Arena until the construction of the Whitney Forum, known locally as "the zoo", in 1958.^[2][3] The Bombers originated as a senior team, competing in the Northern Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League and the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League between 1937 and 1948.

SJHL dynasty

In the postwar period, the Bombers became charter members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).^[4] The team quickly established a dynasty, winning seven league titles in a nine-year span between 1952 and 1960. The team's biggest success during this period came in the 1956–57 season. The Bombers lost only five games in the regular season. In the playoffs, the Bombers beat the Humboldt Indians four games to none in the semifinals, then won the final over the Prince Albert Mintos four games to two. As SJHL champions, the Bombers then advanced to the Abbott Cup to determine the champion for Western Canada. They defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings, a team of junior-aged players competing in the senior Central Alberta Hockey League, four games to two, then the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League's Fort William Canadiens in four games to win the Abbott Cup and advance to the Memorial Cup national tournament.^[5][6]

As per Memorial Cup rules, the Bombers were permitted to add three players to their roster for the 1957 national playoffs, picking up goalie Lynn Davis and defenceman Jean Gauthier from the Fort William Canadiens and centre Orland Kurtenbach from Prince Albert Mintos. There, they faced the Eastern Canadian champion Ottawa Canadiens, coached by Sam Pollock and assistant Scotty Bowman.^[7] The first three games were in Flin Flon, with the remaining games played in Regina, Saskatchewan with Pollock drawing the ire of Flin Flon residents for criticizing the remoteness and size of the community.^[7] The Bombers won the series four games to three to claim the Memorial Cup championship.^[4][5] The win by the Bombers was considered a considerable upset over the favoured Canadiens.^[7] The team was greeted by 4,000 people when they returned to Flin Flon after the series.^[8]

The 1956–57 Bombers were inducted into both the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (1999) and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2009), as well as the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.^[9]

The Bombers played in the SJHL until 1966, when the launch of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (CMJHL) led the SJHL to fold with several of its teams joining the new league.^[10] The Bombers spent the 1966–67 season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) instead.^[4] Led by coach Paddy Ginnell and star players Reggie Leach and Bobby Clarke, who won the league scoring title, the Bombers dominated the MJHL and won the Turnbull Cup as league champions, before losing the Abbott Cup final to Port Arthur.^[4][11] Clarke recorded 71 goals and 183 points in 45 games, while Leach recorded 67 goals and 113 points.^[12] Ginnell was credited with turning the Bombers into a hard-working and physically tough team.^[12][13] The arrangement with the MJHL would last just one season, with the Bombers leaving the league in 1967.

Western Canada Hockey League

After its inaugural season, the CMJHL was renamed the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, which was then simplified to the Western Canada Hockey league one year later.^[10] After their one season in the MJHL, the Bombers joined the WCHL, now the top level of junior hockey in Western Canada, for the 1967–68 season, and they immediately built on their previous success.^[4]

The Clarke-led Bombers continued to dominate, finishing in first place for the 1967–68 regular season before losing in the President's Cup finals to the Estevan Bruins. The Bombers again finished in first place in the 1968–69 season, going on to win that season's playoffs to become President's Cup champions, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings.^[14] Clarke led the league in scoring both seasons (1967-68 and 1968-69) with 168 and 137 points respectively, while Leach recorded 87 goals and 131 points in 1967–68.^[12] As 1969 WCHL champion, the Bombers proceeded to win a national championship in 1969 by defeating the St. Thomas Barons of the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League; the best-of-seven series was unsanctioned by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), which at the time had barred the WCHL from competing for the Memorial Cup. The short-lived Canadian Hockey Association organized an alternate championship; despite being a best-of-seven, St. Thomas withdrew from the series during the fourth game while trailing the game and the series two games to one, protesting the Bombers' physical style of play, and the Bombers were awarded the title.^[14][15] After the series, Flin Flon challenged the Memorial Cup-champion Montreal Junior Canadiens to a showdown, but the Montreal club declined.^[16] The following season, with Clarke having graduated to the professional ranks, the Bombers repeated as league champions, again defeating Edmonton, with Leach leading the league in scoring. Due to the controversy surrounding the previous years series against St. Thomas, there was no national series in 1970.^[14]

The growing financial demands of major junior hockey, notably extensive travel expenses, became a strain for the Bombers, who played in one of the league's smallest and most remote communities. Not only was the travel difficult for the Bombers, but was also difficult for any team visiting Flin Flon.^[17] The franchise departed Flin Flon after the 1977–78 season. The franchise played three and a half seasons after leaving Flin Flon with iterations as the Edmonton Oil Kings—after the original Oil Kings departed Edmonton in 1976 due to pressure from the Edmonton Oilers—for the 1978–79 season, the Great Falls Americans for part of 1979–80 before suspending operations, and the Spokane Flyers for 1980–81 and start of the 1981–82 season before folding in December 1981.^[10]

Return to Junior A

In 1977, the WCHL Bombers had formed an affiliate Junior B team. The Jr. B Bombers would win the 1977–78 Baldy Northcott Trophy as Manitoba Provincial Champions. When the WCHL Bombers departed to Edmonton, the Bombers' ownership retained the Junior B Bombers. The Flin Flon ownership, along with the owners of the Thompson King Miners, banded together with people from The Pas and Snow Lake, Manitoba to create the NorMan Junior Hockey League (NJHL), a rival to the Manitoba Junior League; the following year, the NJHL—along with the Bombers—would be promoted to Junior A status and the right to compete for a national Junior A championship.^[18] Flin Flon won NJHL titles in 1979, 1982, and 1984.

For the 1984–85 season, the Bombers were granted expansion into the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which had been revived in 1968 following the 1966 demise of the original SJHL.^[19] For two seasons, due to SJHL rules requiring teams to be located in Saskatchewan, the team was re-named the Creighton Bombers after the adjacent community of Creighton, Saskatchewan, despite Flin Flon straddling the provincial border. After two seasons, the league allowed the team to re-adopt the Flin Flon moniker.^{[citation needed]}

Modern era

Success was not immediate for the Bombers following their entry into the SJHL. The team made the playoffs in its first season in 1985, but fell to a quarterfinal sweep by the Weyburn Red Wings. The Bombers would miss the playoffs the following two seasons before suffering three straight exits in the first round.^[20] The team won its first SJHL playoff game of the modern era in 1992 against the Nipawin Hawks - but fell in five games.

The following season, playoff success for the Bombers who won the 1993 league championship in a seven game series with the Melville Millionaires,^[21] going on to win the ANAVET Cup over the Dauphin Kings but finishing fifth at that year's Centennial Cup. In the years following, the Bombers struggled to recapture postseason success until the 2000-01 season, when the team won its first regular season pennant. The Bombers were defeated by Nipawin in the semi finals, but still qualified for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup as the host team. At the tournament, Flin Flon made the final, defeating the SJHL champion Weyburn Red Wings in the semi finals before falling to the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the final.^[22]

After the Royal Bank Cup, the Bombers missed the playoffs in four straight seasons and did not return to the league final until 2015-16, losing in a six game series to the Melfort Mustangs. The Bombers would return to the final the following season, losing to the Battlefords North Stars.

Following a two-season SJHL hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bombers returned to the league final in 2021-22 and fell to the Estevan Bruins. Despite being the league runners-up, the Bombers would still appear in the 2022 Centennial Cup where Estevan was the host.^[23] It was the first of three consecutive seasons where the Bombers made the final, but a championship still eluded the team.

In 2025-26, Flin Flon completed a dominant SJHL season where the team finished first in the regular season standings and won the SJHL Championship, the Canterra Seeds Cup, for the first time since 1993 with a sweep of the Yorkton Terriers in four games.^[24]

At the 2026 Centennial Cup the Bombers did not qualify for the playoff round, finishing the tournament with a record of 2-2.^[25]

League and Championship Summary

Season-by-season record

Playoff record

Northern Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League, 1937–1938

• 1937

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 2 games to 0

Final: North Battleford Beavers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1

• 1938

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers received a bye to the league final

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Quakers 4 games to 3 Won League Championship

Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League, 1939–1944

• 1939

Semifinal: Moose Jaw Millers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1 (1 tie)

• 1940 Did not qualify
• 1941

Semifinal: Regina Rangers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 1942

Semifinal: Saskatoon Quakers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 1943

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon RCAF Flyers 3 games to 0

Final: Regina Army Capitals defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 1944

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Moose Jaw Victorias 2 games to 0

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Navy 3 games to 1 Won League Championship

New Westminster CPA Lodestars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1 in Allan Cup playoffs

• 1945 to 1948: No information available

North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, 1949–50

• 1949

Semifinal: Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 1

• 1950

Semifinal: Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, 1951–1966

• 1951

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 3 games to 0 (1 tie)

Final: Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 1952

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Wesleys 4 games to 1

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 3 games to 2 Won League Championship

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in Western Canada Memorial Cup playoffs

• 1953

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 4 games to 2

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Indians 4 games to 1 Won League Championship

Lethbridge Native Sons defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in Western Canada Memorial Cup playoffs

• 1954

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Wesleys 4 games to 3

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 5 games to 4 (1 tie) Won League Championship

Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 in Western Canada Memorial Cup playoffs

• 1955

Semifinal: Prince Albert Mintos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 1956

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt–Melfort Indians 4 games to 1

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 3 games to 2 (2 ties) Won League Championship

Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3 in Western Canada Memorial Cup playoffs

• 1957

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt–Melfort Indians 4 games to 0

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 4 games to 2 Won League Championship

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 2 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup semifinal

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Fort William Canadiens 4 games to 0 Won Abbott Cup

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Ottawa-Hull Canadiens 4 games to 3 Won Memorial Cup

• 1958

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Prince Albert Mintos 3 games to 1 (2 ties)

Final: Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 1959

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Quakers 4 games to 1

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 2 Won League Championship

Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 in the Western Canada Memorial Cup semifinal

Winnipeg Braves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in Western Canada Memorial Cup final

• 1960

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Saskatoon Quakers 4 games to 2 (1 tie)

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1 (1 tie) Won League Championship

Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in Western Canada Memorial Cup semifinal

• 1961 Did not qualify
• 1962

Flin Flon Bombers placed 5th place of 6 (2–8–0) in round robin

• 1963 Did not qualify
• 1964

Quarterfinal: Saskatoon Blades defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 1965

Quarterfinal:Weyburn Red Wings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 1966 Did not qualify

Manitoba Junior Hockey League, 1967

• 1967

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 3 games to 0

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 3 games to 2 Won League Championship (Turnbull Cup)

Port Arthur Marrs defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2 in Western Memorial Cup final

Western Canada Hockey League, 1968–1978

• 1968

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 0

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

Final: Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0 (1 tie)

• 1969

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 2 (1 tie)

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 0 (1 tie)

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 2 Won League Championship

Flin Flon Bombers defeated St. Thomas Barons 2 games to 1^† Won James Piggott National Championship

^†Series forfeited by St. Thomas while down two games to one, and losing 4–0 at 10:10 of the second period of the fourth game^[15]

• 1970

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Brandon Wheat Kings 5 games to 0

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg Jets 5 games to 4

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 0 Won League Championship

• 1971

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Winnipeg 5 games to 2

Final: Edmonton Oil Kings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1 (1 tie)

• 1972

Quarterfinal: Regina Pats defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 2 (2 ties)

• 1973

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 0

Semifinal: Saskatoon Blades defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 1974

Quarterfinal: Swift Current Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 1975 Did not qualify
• 1976 Did not qualify
• 1977 Did not qualify
• 1978

Flin Flon Bombers advanced in Division round robin to Semifinal (4–4)

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Regina Pats 4 games to 1

Flin Flon Bombers eliminated in semifinal round robin (0–4)

NorMan Junior Hockey League, 1979–1984

• 1979

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson Nickel Knights Won League Championship

Baldy Northcott Trophy: Transcona Railers defeated Flin Flon Bombers

• 1980

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated The Pas Lumber Kings 3 games to 0

Final: Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 1

• 1981

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated The Pas Lumber Kings

Final: Thompson King Miners defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 1982

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson King Miners 4 games to 0 Won League Championship

Turnbull Cup: Winnipeg South Blues defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 1983

Final: The Pas Huskies defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 1984

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Thompson King Miners 4 games to 2 Won League Championship

Turnbull Cup: Selkirk Steelers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, 1985–present

• 1985

Quarterfinal: Weyburn Red Wings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 1986 Did not qualify
• 1987 Did not qualify
• 1988

Quarterfinal: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 1989

Quarterfinal: Yorkton Terriers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 1990

Quarterfinal: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 1991 Did not qualify
• 1992

Quarterfinal: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 1993

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 1

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melville Millionaires 4 games to 3 Won League Championship (Hanbidge Cup)

Anavet Cup: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Dauphin Kings 4 games to 2 Won Anavet Cup

Centennial Cup round robin: Flin Flon Bombers placed fifth in 1993 Centennial Cup round robin (0–4)

• 1994

Preliminary round: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 1995 Did not qualify
• 1996

Preliminary round: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 1997 Did not qualify
• 1998 Did not qualify
• 1999

Preliminary round: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 2 games to 0

• 2000

Quarterfinal: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 2001

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Semifinal: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

RBC Cup Round Robin^†: Third in 2001 Royal Bank Cup round robin (2–2)

Semi-Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4–0

RBC Final: Camrose Kodiaks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 5–0

^†Qualified for RBC Cup as hosts

• 2002 Did not qualify
• 2003 Did not qualify
• 2004 Did not qualify
• 2005 Did not qualify
• 2006

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 3

Semifinal: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 2007 Did not qualify
• 2008

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 2

Semifinal: Humboldt Broncos defeated 4 games to 0

• 2009

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4 games to 0

Semifinal: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 2010

Quarterfinal: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 2011

Survivor Series: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 3 games to 1

Quarterfinal: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 2012

Survivor Series: La Ronge Ice Wolves defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 0

• 2013

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 2

Semifinal: Humboldt Broncos defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 2014

Wildcard Series: Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 games to 2

• 2015

Quarterfinal: Notre Dame Hounds defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 2016

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 1

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 1

Final: Melfort Mustangs defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 2017

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 4 games to 1

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Nipawin Hawks 4 games to 3

Final: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 2018

Wildcard Series: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Notre Dame Hounds 2 games to 1

Quarterfinal: Nipawin Hawks defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 1

• 2019

Wildcard Series: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 2 games to 0

Quarterfinal: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

• 2020

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 0

Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

• 2021 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2022

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 2

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Final: Estevan Bruins defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3

Centennial Cup round robin^†: Flin Flon Bombers advanced to playoff round

Centennial Cup quarterfinal: Pickering Panthers defeated Flin Flon Bombers 3 to 2 (2OT)

^†Qualified for Centennial Cup due to Estevan's host status

• 2023

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 3

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 1

Final: Battlefords North Stars defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 0

• 2024

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Kindersley Klippers 4 games to 0

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4 games to 0

Final: Melfort Mustangs defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 2025

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Humboldt Broncos 4 games to 2

Semifinal: Weyburn Red Wings defeated Flin Flon Bombers 4 games to 2

• 2026

Quarterfinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Estevan Bruins 4 games to 0

Semifinal: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Weyburn Red Wings 4 games to 3

Final: Flin Flon Bombers defeated Yorkton Terriers 4 games to 0 Won League Championship (Canterra Seeds Cup)

Centennial Cup: Flin Flon Bombers eliminated in round robin (4th place Group B via 3-way team tiebreaker)