The Building of The Bombers...

First and foremost - I'm beyond excited to have a second Junior Hockey team in town. I've been asked a thousand times already if I'm going to be calling the games. At this point I don't know. I really really hope to be able to broadcast the games... or some of them at least. 

An easier answer is I hope to call "all of them" - except those that directly conflict with the Bulldogs schedule. 

After the June 1st announcement that the VIHJL had awarded the ownership group behind the Alberni Valley Bulldogs approval to join the league this fall, the next step was hiring their Head Coach - Gaelen Patterson on June 7th 

The Port Alberni Bombers are proud to announce that Gaelan Patterson has been named the first head coach and general manager in Port Alberni Bombers history.

Patterson is a native of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and was a 7th round draft pick of the Calgary Flames.

After completing a 4-year junior career with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, Patterson embarked on a 8-year professional career which included stops in the AHL, ECHL, Norway, France and England.

Patterson has spent the past 3 seasons on the coaching staff of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves.

The opportunity to become a head coach was too good of an opportunity for Patterson to pass up. “I’m very excited for the opportunity to join the Port Alberni Bombers. I look forward to working with Joe and the Bulldogs organization in developing the Bombers into a top end VIJHL organization. I believe in their vision and development model for the team and I feel this is a great opportunity for me to develop as a coach. I look forward to helping form a successful organization and helping players realize the goal of moving on to the next level.”

The hiring of Patterson was equally as exciting for the first year franchise. “The addition of Gaelan is a huge step for the Bombers. He’s experienced at the Jr A level, experienced as a player, and motivated to help develop players and move them on. We’re thrilled with what he will bring to our group.” said Joe Martin.

Patterson will officially join the Bombers in August.

In chronological order - let's take a look at how the Bombers roster has come together to this point.

A quick aside - I absolutely LOVED that the Bombers followed up on their initial press release that stated: 

"The vision for Bombers ties back to Michaud’s days with the Major Midget Okanagan Rockets. “I was proud to have helped develop a program that kept younger players at home while giving them a chance to play hockey, develop, and gain exposure. That’s exactly what we plan to do with the Bombers. We envision the Bombers as the logical next step for graduating Alberni Minor Hockey Midget age players, as well as a spot for potential Bulldogs players to develop their skill in our program and under our guidance.”

....with a series of LOCAL signings - showing that it wasn't just WORDS, but a serious vision that they were backing up with the build of their roster from the absolute beginning. 

The news of first pieces to the roster came on June 16th, as Aidan See, Blake Power and Grayson Erickson were announced as signings. 

On July 3rd, the Bombers announced their first transaction in the addition of 2002 Forward Carson Steel from the Nanaimo Buccaneers. 

The next day, July 4th they announced the signing of both Carson and his brother Robbie. 

On July 27th, they announced the signing of Justin Osbourne from Ridge Meadows. 

Port Alberni Native Brett Maclean was announced as a signing on July 27th.

August 1st saw the addition of Powell River's Gavin Mastrodonato (no relation to former Bulldog Keaton) 

The Bombers added Ucluelet's Mason Cannon on August 12th. 

Most recently (August 16th)  the Bombers announced a quartet of signings - Nathan MacDonald of Calgary,  Easton Sandberg of Nanaimo, Ryan Zadery of Calgary and Evan Vasarhely of Maple Ridge.

Hammer