- OCN Blizzard
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OCN Blizzard City The Pas, Manitoba League Manitoba Junior Hockey League Division Sherwood Founded 1996 Home arena Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre Colors Blue, Red, White General manager Scott McMillan Head coach Scott McMillan The Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team from The Pas, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, a part of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The team is owned by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Contents
History
The Blizzard were founded in 1996 by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. They were named and their jersey was styled after the Utica Blizzard of the Colonial Hockey League.
From the 1998-99 season until 2002-03, the Blizzard became the second team in MJHL history and the first team in over sixty years to win five straight Turnbull Cups as MJHL Playoff Champions. In the Anavet Cup Regional title, in succession, the Blizzard lost to the SJHL's Estevan Bruins in 1999, Lost to the Battlefords North Stars in 2000, the Weyburn Red Wings in 2001, defeated the Red Wings the next year, and then lost in 2003 to the Humboldt Broncos. When they won the Anavet Cup in 2002, it earned them the right to compete in Royal Bank Cup 2002. They finished the National Championship round robin with a 2-2 record. In the semi-final they defeated the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs 4-3, but lost in the National Final to the Halifax Exports 3-1.
Blizzard games are broadcast on local radio station CJ1240 (CJAR-AM) and can also be heard online at www.ocnblizzard.arkpro.net or www.arcticradio.ca. Jamie Smalley is the current play-by-play announcer for the team. Past announcers are Kurtis "Huddy" Hudson, Evan Hammond and Kris Menard.
List of Championships
Championship Years Won Turnbull Cup 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, & 2003 Anavet Cup 2001 Season-by-Season record
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs 1996-97 55 32 18 4 1 274 228 69 2nd MJHL Lost Final 1997-98 61 42 18 1 0 285 202 85 2nd MJHL Lost Semi-final 1998-99 62 53 7 1 1 401 149 108 1st MJHL Won League 1999-00 64 44 16 - 4 305 194 92 1st MJHL Won League 2000-01 64 50 10 - 4 334 192 104 1st MJHL Won League 2001-02 64 56 6 - 3 379 149 115 1st MJHL Won League, Won AC 2002-03 63 54 8 - 1 380 160 109 1st MJHL Won League 2003-04 64 46 10 - 8 355 177 100 1st MJHL Lost Quarter Final 2004-05 63 29 22 - 12 221 221 70 5th MJHL Lost Quarter Final 2005-06 63 37 17 - 9 232 181 83 2nd MJHL Lost Final 2006-07 63 16 35 - 12 223 281 44 10th MJHL DNQ 2007-08 62 22 36 - 4 204 272 48 9th MJHL DNQ 2008-09 62 32 22 - 8 214 211 72 5th MJHL Lost Quarter Final 2009-10 62 24 30 - 8 181 202 56 9th MJHL DNQ 2010-11 62 34 18 - 10 182 164 78 5th MJHL Lost Quarter-final Playoffs
- 1997 Lost Final
- OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-none
- St. James Canadians defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1
- 1998 Lost Semi-final
- OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2
- Winkler Flyers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1
- 1999 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup
- OCN Blizzard defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
- Estevan Bruins (SJHL) defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2
- 2000 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup
- OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders
- OCN Blizzard defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS
- Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1
- 2001 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup
- OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
- Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2
- 2002 Won League, Won Anavet Cup, Lost 2002 Royal Bank Cup final
- OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-none
- OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3
- OCN Blizzard defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
- OCN Blizzard defeated Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) 4-games-to-1 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
- Third in 2002 Royal Bank Cup round robin (2-2)
- OCN Blizzard defeated Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) 4-3 in semi-final
- Halifax Oland Exports (MJAHL) defeated OCN Blizzard 3-1 in final
- 2003 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup
- OCN Blizzard defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none
- OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Southeast Blades 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
- Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1
- 2004 Lost Quarter-final
- Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-none
- 2005 Lost Quarter-final
- Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2
- 2006 Lost Final
- OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-1
- OCN Blizzard defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-3
- Winnipeg South Blues defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1
- 2007 DNQ
- 2008 DNQ
- 2009 Lost Quarter-final
- Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2
- 2010 DNQ
- 2011 Lost Quarter-final
- Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-3
Retired numbers
- #18 Cliff Duschesne
- #22 Terence Tootoo
Notable alumni
- Jordin Tootoo - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ryan Constant - Springfield Falcons , Hartford Wolfpack
- Steve MacIntyre - Providence Bruins, Hartford Wolfpack
- Konrad McKay - Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hartford Wolfpack
East Coast Hockey League
- Ryan Constant - Stockton Thunder, Charlotte Checkers
- Terence Tootoo - Roanoke Express
- Steve MacIntyre - Charlotte Checkers
- Konrad McKay - Charlotte Checkers
- Jamie Muswagon - Wheeling Nailers, Greenville Grrrowl
- Darcy Johnson - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Ryan Person - Greenville Grrrowl
- Mike Gooch - Wheeling Nailers
- Michael Young - Amarillo Gorillas, Lubbock Cotton Kings, Tulsa Oilers
- Matt Summers - Mississippi RiverKings, Laredo Bucks
- Donald Melnyk - Wichita Thunder, Laredo Bucks
- David Victor - Wichita Thunder, Laredo Bucks
- Mike Gooch - Laredo Bucks
- Aaron Starr - Laredo Bucks
- Konrad McKay - New Mexico Scorpions, Odessa Jackalopes
- Justin Williams - Fort Worth Brahmas, Topeka Tarantulas
- Aaron Porter - Border-City Bandits, Oklahoma City Blazers
- Brian Tucker - Memphis Riverkings
Southern Professional Hockey League
- Donald Melnyk - Twin City Cyclones, Richmond Renegades
- Brad Reaney - Richmond Renegades
- Brett Needham - Richmond Renegades
- Andrew Gallant - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Ryan Person - Jacksonville Barracudas, Asheville Aces
- Kiel Wilgosh - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Matt Leduc - Pee Dee Cyclones
International Hockey League
- Brett Needham - Kalamazoo Wings
- Steve MacIntyre - Quad City Mallards, Muskegon Fury
- Jamie Muswagon - Port Huron Beacons
- Darcy Johnson - Fort Wayne Komets
- Aaron Porter - Muskegon Fury
- Brian Tucker - Muskegon Fury, Madison Kodiaks
- Ryan Person - Adirondack IceHawks
National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Tyler Scofield - Bemidji State University
- Louis Chabot - Cornell University
- Lem Randall - University of Maine
- Kevin Wilson - Lake Superior State University
- Andrew Gallant - Manhattanville College
- Mark Wallmann - St. Lawrence University
- Paul Wallmann - St. Lawrence University
- Mike Gooch - Neumann College
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
- Cole Hunter - University of Manitoba
- Jared Lang - University of Manitoba
- Aaron Starr - University of Manitoba
- Dave Brown - University of Manitoba
- Barrett Labossiere - University of Manitoba
- Michaek Young - University of Manitoba
- Jamie Muswagon - University of Manitoba
- Everett Bear - University of Manitoba
- Shayne Emmons -University of Regina
- Dallas Jackson - University of Lethbridge
- Jonathan Romic - University of Windsor
- Barrett Brook - University of Guelph
- David Victor - Acadia University
Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey
- Konrad McKay - Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay, Verdun Dragons
- Darcy Johnson - Sorel-Tracy Mission, Thetford Mines Prolab
Other
- Jeremy Southwind- Winnipeg Jets ASHL
- Barrett Labossiere - EC Die Adler Kitzbuhel, Austria
Franchise Leaders
Regular season
As of May 23, 2007
# Years Player Seasons GP G A Pts PIM P/G 1 '99-'04 Michael Young 5 254 92 218 310 211 1.22 2 '03-'07 Matt Summers 4 195 105 180 285 266 1.46 3 '01-'04 Aaron Starr 3 162 131 134 265 156 1.64 4 '96-'99 Cliff Duchesne 3 179 110 153 263 389 1.47 5 '96-'99 Konrad McKay 3 159 78 182 260 937 1.64 6 '97-'01 Terence Tootoo 4 217 109 113 222 849 1.02 7 '99-'02 Jamie Muswagon 3 134 90 124 214 115 1.60 - '99-'02 Justin Williams 3 174 85 129 214 193 1.23 9 '02-'06 Don Melnyk 4 190 77 132 209 653 1.10 10 '02-'06 Jeremy Southwind 4 100 77 100 177 653 1.10 - From the OCN Blizzard 10th Anniversary Program***
See also
External links
Manitoba Junior Hockey League Teams Dauphin Kings • Neepawa Natives • OCN Blizzard • Portage Terriers • Selkirk Steelers • Steinbach Pistons • Swan Valley Stampeders • Waywayseecappo Wolverines • Winkler Flyers • Winnipeg Blues • Winnipeg SaintsFormer Teams Brandon Travellers • Brandon Wheat Kings • Flin Flon Bombers • Fort Frances Royals • Kenora Thistles (1926–1940) • Kenora Thistles (1968–1982) • Kildonan North Stars • Steinbach Hawks • St. James Canadians • Thompson King Miners • Thunder Bay HornetsSeasons History Sports teams based in Manitoba Baseball Football Hockey NHL: Winnipeg Jets, WHL: Brandon Wheat Kings, MJHL: Beausejour Blades · Dauphin Kings · Neepawa Natives · OCN Blizzard · Portage Terriers · Selkirk Steelers · Swan Valley Stampeders · Waywayseecappo Wolverines · Winkler Flyers · Winnipeg Saints · Winnipeg Blues, SJHL: Flin Flon Bombers, WWHL: Manitoba Maple LeafsSoccer Rugby union RCNJC: Manitoba, NWL: Manitoba U20Ringette Canadian Interuniversity Sport Categories:- Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams
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