OCN Blizzard
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| Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard | |
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| City: | The Pas, Manitoba |
| League: | Manitoba Junior Hockey League |
| Division: | Sher-Wood |
| Founded: | 1996 |
| Home Arena: | Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre |
| Colors: | Blue, Red, and White |
| Head Coach: | Doug Hedley |
| General Manager: | Doug Hedley |
The Opaskwayak Cree Nation Blizzard are a Canadian Tier II 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.
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[edit] 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.
The 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.com or www.arcticradio.ca. Jamie Smalley is the play-by-play announcer for the team and 2007-2008 is his 4th season covering the team. Past announcers are Kurtis "Huddy" Hudson, Evan Hammond and Kris Menard.
[edit] 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 | 62 | 33 | 23 | 6 | - | -- | -- | 72 | MJHL | Lost Final |
| 1997-98 | 62 | 43 | 12 | 7 | - | -- | -- | 93 | MJHL | Lost Semi-final |
| 1998-99 | 62 | 53 | 7 | 2 | - | 401 | 147 | 108 | 1st MJHL | Won League, Lost AC |
| 1999-00 | 63 | 44 | 16 | 3 | - | -- | -- | 91 | 1st MJHL | Won League, Lost AC |
| 2000-01 | 64 | 55 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 401 | 162 | 111 | 1st MJHL | Won League, Lost AC 4-2 |
| 2001-02 | 64 | 56 | 5 | 0 | 3 | -- | -- | 115 | 1st MJHL | Won League, Won AC 4-1, Lost RBC Final |
| 2002-03 | 64 | 55 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 401 | 162 | 111 | 1st MJHL | Won League, Lost AC 4-1 |
| 2003-04 | 64 | 46 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 355 | 177 | 100 | 1st MJHL | Lost Quarter Final |
| 2004-05 | 63 | 29 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 221 | 221 | 70 | 5th MJHL | Lost Quarter Final |
| 2005-06 | 63 | 37 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 232 | 181 | 83 | 2nd MJHL | Lost Final |
| 2006-07 | 63 | 16 | 35 | 6 | 6 | 223 | 281 | 44 | 10th MJHL | DNQ |
| 2007-08 | 62 | 22 | 36 | - | 4 | 204 | 272 | 48 | 9th MJHL |
[edit] Retired Numbers
- #18 Cliff Duschesne
- #22 Terence Tootoo
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] NHL
[edit] AHL
- Jordin Tootoo - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ryan Constant - Hartford Wolfpack
[edit] ECHL
- Ryan Constant - Charlotte Checkers
- Terence Tootoo - Roanoke Express
[edit] CHL
- Michael Young - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Matt Summers - Laredo Bucks
[edit] SPHL
Southern Professional Hockey League
- Donald Melnyk - Richmond Renegades
- Brad Reaney - Richmond Renegades
[edit] NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Tyler Scofield - Bemidji State University
- Louis Chabot - Cornell University
- Lem Randall - University of Maine
[edit] CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
- Cole Hunter - University of Manitoba
- Jared Lang - University of Manitoba
- Aaron Starr - University of Manitoba
- Dave Brown - University of Manitoba
- Shayne Emmons -University of Regina
[edit] Other
- Andrew Gallant - Manhattanville College
- Pierre-Olivier Girouard - Diables Noirs de Tours
- Konrad McKay - Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay
[edit] Franchise Leaders
[edit] 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 Duschesne | 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-'07 | Lem Randall | 5 | 226 | 86 | 121 | 207 | 477 | 0.92 |
- From the OCN Blizzard 10th Anniversary Program***
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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