Sioux Lookout Bombers provide fundraising update, announce goaltender player commitment

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Lookout Bombers are continuing to garner community support as they prepare to take to the ice this September in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
One of the ways the team has been preparing for the upcoming season is through the Bombers Builders campaign. In announcing their latest platinum level sponsor, Fresh Market Foods, the Bombers also chose Fresh Market Foods as the location for a fundraising thermometer, showing the team’s progress towards their $150,000 fundraising goal. The team has raised approximately $70,000 so far.
Bombers Director of Business Operations, Joe Cassidy, shared, “We have been running the builders program for several months and we are looking to wrap it up at the end of July.  The Builders program is specifically designed to help us raise the funds required to ice a team this fall.  There will be other avenues of support for the team once we are operating (advertising, game day recognition, custom merchandise opportunities, etc.).” Cassidy continued, “A main component of the Bombers Builders campaign is to make sure that the community was aware of those businesses or groups that supported the Bombers from the start and helped bring Jr A hockey back to Sioux Lookout.  This was the reason behind the social media posts and the eventual permanent “Builder’s wall” in the Arena, as a way to let the community know who our builders are.  We also wanted to keep the community informed on where we are related to reaching our goal for this season and the thermometer in Fresh Market Foods’ entrance is a way to show our town the progress we are making. I don’t think there is any wall in Sioux Lookout that gets more eyes on it than the one you see when you walk in the doors at Fresh Market Foods, so naturally we felt this was the best place for the thermometer. Todd and Tracey and their team at Fresh Market Foods have been nothing but supportive of the Bombers and our goal.   They were vital in providing advice and helping us set up the concession stand in the arena this year, which was overwhelmingly supported by arena visitors this season”.   
Cassidy said the support from local businesses has been amazing, “We knew how generous this community was and that has been well reflected in the support received to date.  We also can’t say enough about those folks that have been out to support our fundraisers from merchandise sales to Trivia Night and the Golf Tournament, these are key to helping us reach our goal.  
“To support the team, you can go to bombersmerch.ca and make a donation in the builder’s section or email [email protected].”
The Bombers are continuing to add to their roster, announcing on April 29 a player commitment by Goaltender 
Casey Johnson.
“Casey is a great get for us, a big kid who moves very, very well, and who sees the ice better than most goaltenders. Add to that, he’s just a fantastic young man all around, and we believe he has a real shot at being our number 1 goaltender and also being a real good guy in the room,” Bombers Head Scout Trevor Petrinchuk shared.
Johnson comes from Seattle, Washington, where he played his 2021-2022 season with the Pueblo Bulls of the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League). 
Upcoming Bombers events include a Trivia night on May 7, an ID Camp in Ignace June 24, 25, and 26 and the Bombers Classic golf tournament on July 8. Cassidy said there are still spots remaining in the golf tournament, but they are going quickly. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Bombers Director of Hockey Operations Austen Hoey at 807-738-3980 or go to Bombersmerch.ca.