For those of us who rattle off Hockey Stats like math teachers rattles off numbers, mark off the big game like a sick day or Holiday, for those who live on expired hot dogs at the stadium rather then your favourite restaurant, the name Carter Anderson may be a player you’ve kept a close eye on recently. This is at least how the Flin Flon Bombers found this new player and recruited him on October 12, 2023.
Since the addition was made a rapid new standard was set making him rank the top 10 in league scoring and bringing the team up to number 1 in the CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League) now for 7 straight weeks. This collecting 27 of a possible 28 points in their past 14 games.
This all time record has never before been achieved by the Bombers, and according to team coach; Cole McCaig ranking number 1 hasn’t happened in the History of the Bombers period.
“Carter has been excellent for us, he plays in all situations for us and he got number 1 power play unit and he’s one of our top panelling players as well” Says McCaig, “Carter is very competitive, he hates to lose along with other guys on our team, he also isn’t afraid to tell other players when their not pulling their own weight and is good about leading by example”
Anderson comes originally from Thompson Manitoba which while he was still only in grade 9 the love of Hockey moved him away from home to Winnipeg for the Red Cup Tournament. “And I’ve been away from home ever since” stated Anderson.
Looking the the earliest years of Anderson, the passion for the sport wasn’t inherited by family but rather developed of his own interest where though it wasn’t always something his parents understood they supported him to act on his dream. “This is something I’ve been working toward my whole life, I always wanted to play pro Hockey” States Anderson, further crediting his success to his faith; “And it will all work out, God has a plan for everything”
Before being recruited to the Bombers, the attention of many other teams reached out to Anderson making for a bit of a recruiting war within the Manitoba Junior League and a big decision for Anderson. McCaig quoted with a sigh of relief how fortunate that was for the Bombers; “It actually would have been bad on our part if someone listed on him before we did. He’s a threat to the opposing team anytime he’s on the ice”
Many people credit Anderson’s success not just to the intense quality of performance but also the electrifying thrill and energy he brings rushing through the audience; “He’s one of those players where when you see Carter skate with the puck in the neutral zone you get on the edge of your seat because he’s such an exciting player!” Says McCaig.
McCaig himself was a player for the Bombers from 2011 - 2013 where he was playing division Hockey in Wisconsin for 4 years. “When my senior season was wrapped up I reached out to the head coach here and asked if I could use him as a reference because I had always wanted to get into coaching. He offered me a job on the spot and I’ve been here ever since”.
It now marks his fifth year coaching for the Bombers, in which head coach; Mike Reagan highly acclaimed McCaig once he signed a one year extension in July 2023; “I am very excited to have Cole back, I feel he is a very valuable part of the team. He’s done a tremendous job with our penalty kill and our Defence. His work ethic, attention to detail and commitment to the team is second to none”
With it only being roughly 2 months since these new developments the entire team worked a perfect system of communication and lightning fast reflexes the rest of the team can predict, making a well oiled machine of precise team play. McCaig emphasized this further as he described the impressive way the whole team follows through with their role with excellence; “They are all great players that contribute differently to the team. We have a very competitive group with great leadership skills”
The Flin Flon Bombers currently have five players originally from Northern Manitoba. Two from Flin Flon, one from Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and one from The Pas, marking at the most since the early 2000’s or late 90’s.
With scores on the rise for this local team we all wait eagerly for their next play, cheering on the Bombers to conquer the victory over Canada and represent our proud communities of the North.
~Matthias J. Johnson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Thompson Citizen. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
