Northern Manitoba Blizzard

History

The team was 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

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Source:

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

Centennial Cup

Maritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative. Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion.

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.

References

References

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