OCN Blizzard

History

The Blizzard were founded in 1996 by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas, Manitoba. The team was a year in the making with the Cree Nation's eye on entering the 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 the current 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 Opaskwayak Blizzard.

Founding directors were James Smith, Chief Frances Flett(late), Gordon Lathlin(late), Gilbert Lathlin(Rat), Nathan McGillivary and Recreation Director/Director of Hockey Boh Kubrakovich. A search for a Head Coach/Director of Hockey did not last long as the directors selected Gardiner MacDougall as their first choice to operate the newly established hockey club. Leonard Strandberg was then hired as the General Manager in 1996.

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 CJAR 102.9 (CJAR-FM) and can also be heard online at www.thepasonline.com. Jaret Schneider is the current play-by-play announcer. Past announcers include Kurtis "Huddy" Hudson, Evan Hammond, Kris Menard, Jamie Smaller and Bradley Karp.

In December 2016, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation council declared its intention to cease the team's operations following the 2016-17 season. The MJHL is currently exploring other options to save the franchise, which would include finding a new ownership group. The Blizzards' board of directors were later granted permission to operate the team for another season, but without funding from the band council.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

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

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

Retired numbers

#18 Cliff Duschesne

#22 Terence Tootoo

Notable alumni

National Hockey League

Steve MacIntyre - Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jordin Tootoo - Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils

American Hockey League

Ryan Constant - Springfield Falcons, Hartford Wolfpack

Steve MacIntyre - Providence Bruins, Hartford Wolfpack

Konrad McKay - Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hartford Wolfpack

Jordin Tootoo - Milwaukee Admirals

East Coast Hockey League/ECHL

Ryan Constant - Adirondack Thunder, Stockton Thunder, Charlotte Checkers

Mike Gooch - Wheeling Nailers

Darcy Johnson - Long Beach Ice Dogs

Steve MacIntyre - Charlotte Checkers

Konrad McKay - Charlotte Checkers

Jamie Muswagon - Wheeling Nailers, Greenville Grrrowl

Ryan Person - Greenville Grrrowl

Terence Tootoo - Roanoke Express

Central Hockey League

Mike Gooch - Laredo Bucks

Konrad McKay - New Mexico Scorpions, Odessa Jackalopes

Donald Melnyk - Wichita Thunder, Laredo Bucks

Aaron Porter - Border City Bandits, Oklahoma City Blazers

Aaron Starr - Laredo Bucks

Matt Summers - Mississippi RiverKings, Laredo Bucks

Brian Tucker - Memphis Riverkings

David Victor - Wichita Thunder, Laredo Bucks

Justin Williams - Fort Worth Brahmas, Topeka Tarantulas

Michael Young - Amarillo Gorillas, Lubbock Cotton Kings, Tulsa Oilers

Southern Professional Hockey League

Andrew Gallant - Knoxville Ice Bears

Matt Leduc - Pee Dee Cyclones

Donald Melnyk - Knoxville Ice Bears, Louisiana IceGators, Richmond Renegades, Twin City Cyclones

Brett Needham - Richmond Renegades

Ryan Person - Jacksonville Barracudas, Asheville Aces

Brad Reaney - Richmond Renegades

Kiel Wilgosh - Columbus Cottonmouths

Colonial/United/International Hockey League

Darcy Johnson - Fort Wayne Komets

Steve MacIntyre - Quad City Mallards, Muskegon Fury

Jamie Muswagon - Port Huron Beacons

Brett Needham - Kalamazoo Wings

Ryan Person - Adirondack IceHawks

Aaron Porter - Muskegon Fury

Brian Tucker - Muskegon Fury, Madison Kodiaks

National Collegiate Athletic Association

Louis Chabot - Cornell University

Andrew Gallant - Manhattanville College

Mike Gooch - Neumann College

Danil Kalashnikov - Concordia College

Lem Randall - University of Maine

Tyler Scofield - Bemidji State University

Jon Stephansson - Minot State University

Mark Wallmann - St. Lawrence University

Paul Wallmann - St. Lawrence University

Kevin Wilson - Lake Superior State University

Canadian Interuniversity Sport

David Aime - Queen's University

Everett Bear - University of Manitoba

Barrett Brook - University of Guelph

Dave Brown - University of Manitoba

Nathan Bruyere - Lakehead University

Shayne Emmons -University of Regina

Cole Hunter - University of Manitoba

Dallas Jackson - University of Lethbridge

Barrett Labossiere - University of Manitoba

Jared Lang - University of Manitoba

Justin MacDonald - Lakehead University

Jamie Muswagon - University of Manitoba

Jonathan Romic - University of Windsor

Aaron Starr - University of Manitoba

David Victor - Acadia University

Justin Waskewitch - University of Regina

Michaek Young - University of Manitoba

Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey

Darcy Johnson - Sorel-Tracy Mission, Thetford Mines Prolab

Konrad McKay - Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay, Verdun Dragons

Federal Hockey League

Roger Tagoona - Dayton Demonz

Other

Jeremy Southwind- Winnipeg Jets ASHL

Barrett Labossiere - EC Die Adler Kitzbuhel, Austria