OCN Blizzard


The Opaskwayak Cree Nation 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. The team is owned by two local businessmen and brothers Salman Safdar Dhillon and Usman Tahir Dhillon. Blizzard games are broadcast on local radio station CJAR 102.9 FM and can also be heard online at www.thepasonline.com.

History

The Blizzard were founded in 1996 by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. The team was a year in the making with the Cree Nation's goal to enter the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. 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.
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, Gordon Lathlin, Gilbert Lathlin, Nathan McGillivary and recreation director/director of hockey Boh Kubrakovich. They selected as their first head coach and director of hockey. 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 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 Opaskwayak Cree Nation 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 local businessmen 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.

List of championships

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsFinishPlayoffs
1996–9755321841274228692nd MJHLLost final
1997–9861421810285202852nd MJHLLost semi-final
1998–9962537114011491081st MJHLWon league
1999–00644416—4305194921st MJHLWon league
2000–01645010—43341921041st MJHLWon league
2001–0264566—33791491151st MJHLWon league, won ANAVET Cup
2002–0363548—13801601091st MJHLWon league
2003–04644610—83551771001st MJHLLost quarter-final
2004–05632922—12221221705th MJHLLost quarter-final
2005–06633717—9232181832nd MJHLLost final
2006–07631635—122232814410th MJHLDid not qualify
2007–08622236—4204272489th MJHLDid not qualify
2008–09623222—8214211725th MJHLLost quarter-final
2009–10622430—8181202569th MJHLDid not qualify
2010–11623418—10182164785th MJHLLost quarter-final
2011–12613123—7176183697th MJHLLost semi-final
2012–13603916—5226193833rd MJHLLost semi-final
2013–14602134—5171235478th MJHLLost quarter-final
2014–15602035—51672034510th MJHLLost survivor series
2015–16602730—3185214576th MJHLLost quarter-final
2016–17603917—4200153823rd MJHLLost final
2017–18603220—8209192724th MJHLLost quarter-final
2018–19601840—21532583810th MJHLDNQ
2019–20601639—51582513710th MJHLDNQ

Playoffs

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.
NameTeam
Ryan ConstantHartford Wolfpack
Josh ElmesRapid City Rush
Derek ErnestWheeling Nailers
Andrew GallantElmira Jackals
Mike GoochWheeling Nailers
Kristjan JefkinsVictoria Salmon Kings /Amsterdam Tijgers
Darcy JohnsonLong Beach Ice Dogs
Brady KeeperFlorida Panthers
Charles LachanceTulsa Oilers
Steve MacIntyreEdmonton Oilers
Jon MirastySyracuse Crunch /HC Vityaz
Konrad McKayBridgeport Sound Tigers
Chris MurphyGreenville Grrrowl
Jamie MuswagonWheeling Nailers
Mike OuelletLong Beach Ice Dogs /VisbyRoma
Ryan PersonGreenville Grrrowl
Russell SpenceGreenville Grrrowl /RT Bad Nauheim
Jordin TootooChicago Blackhawks
Terence TootooRoanoke Express
Dale WarkentinBakersfield Condors
Wally WuttuneeWheeling Nailers