Mental Health Awareness in the spotlight as Bombers come from behind to edge Miners in special hockey match

Tim Brody - Editor

Mental Health Awareness was in the spotlight last Saturday night at the Hangar (Sioux Lookout Memorial Arena) as the Sioux Lookout Bombers hosted the visiting Red Lake Miners.
The special game was sponsored by Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA).
“As the First Nations Communities and the people we serve grapple with a mental health crisis, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority is dedicated to providing programs and services that support those that are impacted. We were proud to partner with the Sioux Lookout Bombers to bring awareness to this issue, as well as to enjoy a night of hockey, and to let people know it’s OK to ask for help,” stated SLFNHA CEO and President Sonia Isaac-Mann.
Bombers President Joe Cassidy said of the special game, “Obviously it’s something that’s at the forefront of hockey. We sat down and looked at the special games we wanted to do this year, and this was a no-brainer for us. And again, trying to do something where we can raise some money, keep it local, and support mental health locally. Very important to us. SLFNHA, fantastic, thank you to SLFNHA for stepping up.”
The Bombers came from behind to beat the Miners 2-1 in front of a crowd of 559 people.
“This is probably one of the best crowds I think we’ve had all season. It was incredible. Great atmosphere tonight. Glad the boys pulled out the win,” Cassidy added.
Proceeds from the evening’s 50/50 draw conducted by the Rotary Club of Sioux Lookout, along with proceeds from the auction of a one-of-a-kind goalie helmet and the players buying their specially made jerseys for the game added up to $4000 which was donated to the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation to be earmarked for mental health initiatives. 
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation President Christine Hoey, who is also a member of the Bombers executive, commented, “When we talked about in the fall that we were going to do four special games through the year, one of them being mental health because it’s important, doesn’t matter how much is publicized, there’s still a lot a of people that need help or need someplace to go and get it, so we contacted Meno Ya Win, who obviously have a mental health department, so we just said, could we, because SLFNHA is sponsoring it, they were all on board for it, could we give them money to be earmarked for mental health initiatives to be kept locally in Sioux Lookout.”
Jeremy Capay of Lac Seul First Nation based business Jech Apparel also collaborated with the Bombers for the special game, selling special edition casual wear.
“Especially for hockey, a lot of our young people that play hockey, they really need that support system for mental health, especially when they’re competing,” he shared. People can find out more about Jech Apparel and what it has to offer at www.jechapparel.com.
Last Saturday night’s hockey contest was a close one with neither team scoring in the first period.
The Miners found the scoreboard first with Ethan Cerone scoring at 4:51 in the second period. Assists went to Peter Forester and Landon van Engelen.
The Bombers had a terrific opportunity to score later in the period with two overlapping Miners penalties giving the Bombers a two player advantage for 1:10. The Bombers were not able to get through the Miners defence or their goalie, Noah Davis, to capitalize. 1-0 Miners at the end of the second period. 
A fired up Bombers team stormed onto the ice to begin the third period with Trever Sanderson scoring for the Bombers just 23 seconds into the period to tie the game 1-1. Assists went to Cobe Delaney and Owen Cotter.
The Bombers kept up the pressure, which resulted in Connor Burke scoring the Bombers’ second goal of the evening thanks to assists from Dale Horseman and Kaden Veller.
The Miners pulled their goalie with about 30 seconds left in the third period, but the Bombers were able to hang on for the 2-1 victory. 
Matthew Spencer-Dahl picked up the win in net for the Bombers.
The Bombers edged the Miners 4-3 the previous evening (Feb. 2), also at the Hangar.
Bombers Head Coach Carson Johnstone commented, “I thought we played a pretty good game last night. It’s tough. We’ve been playing some pretty good hockey down the stretch.”
Commenting on Saturday night’s game he said, “I felt good about our first period, but their goalie played good. We were hitting posts, it’s just one of those nights and that can happen sometimes that you just can’t score. We had to stay committed to defense and make sure we kept it to one on the board and the game didn’t get away from us when they had a 1-0 lead for a while. I was happy with the commitment to defence, and then getting it done in the third, that’s huge character out of the boys.”
Asked what he said to his players during the second intermission, Johnstone said, “I just said to them, guys, stop getting frustrated with each other because they were coming to the bench and I said, it’s hockey, it doesn’t happen every shift for you. We have to stay committed to doing the good things and I said, if you get frustrated with each other, it’s going to fall apart. So, good hockey teams find a way to come together, they find a way to win, we’ve got to do that, so for 20 minutes, find a way. And then I walked out, and they found a way, so I was happy about that.”
Commenting on Mental Health Awareness being the focus of the evening, he said, “It’s something we’re pretty conscientious of is the player’s mental health. We did a game last year obviously and we have an open door policy with our players, it’s important that in hockey that’s encouraged I think, because for years and years that wasn’t always the case. It was kind of like shut up and do your job… we’re there to help these guys get through some tough things as young athletes. I think it’s real important and I’m glad we had a good turnout.”
Bombers forward Trever Sanderson, who scored the first goal of the evening for the Bombers, commented of the game, “It was a hard first two periods. We just couldn’t put the puck in the back of the net. We had our chances but just couldn’t get it done. Come the third, we scored right away and that really helped us.”
He said of the evening’s special focus, “I think it’s a great idea because I actually have had family members who have dealt with that kind of stuff, so it’s nice to see that we’re supporting it.”
Bombers forward Connor Burke, who scored the game winning goal, said of the match, “Just like Trever said, we were playing well first couple of periods, but it just seemed like we couldn’t get any bounces or anything. Once that first one went in, you could just kind of tell with the energy in the rink that we weren’t going to let it slip away from us.”
Sharing his thoughts on the evening’s special focus he concluded, “I think it’s a good idea. We did it last year. It was pretty successful. Like he said as well, I know people who have dealt with it and it’s okay to speak up.”