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The Northern Manitoba Blizzard are a 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 Hockey League and Hockey Canada.

History

The team as founded by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation as the OCN Blizzard in 1996. It was a year in the making with the Cree Nation's goal to enter the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). Their hockey development and recreation department spent many months prior getting the community members on board through community meetings and house to house visits. Boh Kubrakovich, Jim Smith and Nathan McGillivary spent time working with the SJHL prior to entering their current league, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).

The Blizzard name and jersey was styled after the Utica Blizzard of the Colonial Hockey League. It was through a Blizzard like snow storm that the new directors of the team made it to Winnipeg to announce the team. During the press conference the directors decided to call the team the OCN (Opaskwayak Cree Nation) Blizzard.

Founding directors were James Smith, Chief Frances Flett, Gordon Lathlin, Gilbert Lathlin, Nathan McGillivary and recreation director/director of hockey Boh Kubrakovich. They selected Gardiner MacDougall as their first head coach and director of hockey. Leonard Strandberg was then hired as the general manager in 1996. Wayne Hawrysh was also a large contributor to the formation of the Club, acting over his tenure as a founder, governor, assistant coach, marketing director, and more.

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 Cup titles as MJHL playoff champions. At the ANAVET Cup regional tournament, in succession, the Blizzard lost to the SJHL's Estevan Bruins in 1999, to the Battlefords North Stars in 2000, the Weyburn Red Wings in 2001, defeated the Kindersley Klippers in 2002, and then lost in 2003 to the Humboldt Broncos. By winning the ANAVET Cup in 2002 the Blizzard earned them the right to compete in the 2002 Royal Bank Cup. They finished the Junior A national championship round-robin with a 2–2 record. In the semi-final OCN defeated the British Columbia Hockey League's Chilliwack Chiefs 4–3. They would go on to lose in the national final to the Halifax Exports 3–1.

In December 2016, the OCN council declared its intention to cease team operations following the 2016–17 season. The Blizzard board of directors were later granted permission to operate the team for another season, but without funding from the band council.

In 2018 a pair of businessmen, brothers Salman Safdar Dhillon and Usman Tahir Dhillon, jumped in to save the club. A proposal was presented in front of elected chief and council of Opaskwayak Cree Nation and it was unanimously approved and a sale agreement was signed. That sale was brought before the MJHL board of governors and after meeting a few more conditions was approved.

In 2024, the team was sold to Rob & Bonnie White, of The Pas, Manitoba, and the team name was changed to Northern Manitoba Blizzard.

List of championships

Season-by-season record

Source: "OCN Blizzard hockey team statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

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

• 2009 Lost quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

• 2011 Lost quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-3

• 2012 Lost semi-final

OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-2

Winnipeg Saints defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

• 2013 Lost semi-final

OCN Blizzard defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-1

Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-3

• 2014 Lost quarter-final

OCN Blizzard defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 2-games-to-1

Dauphin Kings defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-0

• 2015 Lost Survivor Series

Selkirk Steelers defeated OCN Blizzard 2-games-to-0

• 2016 Lost quarter-final

Winkler Flyers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1

• 2017 Lost final

OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-1

OCN Blizzard defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-0

Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

• 2018 Lost quarter-final

Winkler Flyers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

• 2019 DNQ
• 2020 DNQ
• 2021 Playoffs cancelled
• 2022 DNQ
• 2023 Lost quarter-final

Virden Oil Capitals defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

Retired numbers

• #10 Gary Constant Jr.
• #18 Cliff Duschesne
• #22 Terence Tootoo

Notable alumni

Many players have used the OCN Blizzard as a stepping stone into a career in the professional leagues across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba
• Manitoba Junior Hockey League
• Hockey Manitoba

References

1. "MJHL still hopeful OCN Blizzard can be saved". Winnipeg Free Press. 22 December 2016.
2. "OCN Blizzard will play next season". The Reminder. 12 March 2017.
3. "Opaskwayak Cree Nation selling junior hockey team". CBC Manitoba. 21 January 2019.
4. "OCN Blizzard sale awaits league governors' vote". Winnipeg Free Press. 21 January 2019.
5. "OCN junior club sold to locally-based ownership group". The Reminder. 25 January 2019.
6. "Businessmen in The Pas buy MJHL's troubled OCN Blizzard franchise". Winnipeg Free Press. 15 May 2019.
7. "New ownership for OCN Blizzard confirmed". The Reminder. 25 May 2019.
8. Duff, Darnell (24 July 2024). "Blizzard Reveal New Name". 730 CKDM. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
9. "New Ownership for Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club". The Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club (Press release). Retrieved 5 July 2024.
10. "MJHL cancels remainder for the 2020-21 season". Discover Westman. 12 February 2021.

Further reading

• Westhaver, Eric (25 May 2019). "New ownership for OCN Blizzard confirmed". Flin Flon Reminder. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• Petz, Sarah (21 January 2019). "Opaskwayak Cree Nation selling junior hockey team". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• Dankochik, Cassidy (11 August 2024). "MJHL's Blizzard re-brand to better represent northern MB". The Carillon. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• Duff, Darnell (24 July 2024). "Blizzard Reveal New Name". 730 CKDM. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• Stelter, Ryan (11 January 2017). "The OCN Blizzard of the MJHL is on the brink of extinction". The Manitoban. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• "Northern Manitoba hockey team fires assistant GM to 'ensure the values' of the Blizzard". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

• "Blizzard ink long term agreement with coaching staff". Opasquia Times. wcmbnews.com. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

External links

• OCN Blizzard website

• Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams
• The Pas
• Ice hockey clubs established in 1996
• 1996 establishments in Manitoba