DEREK HOLTOM
Blizzard have national championship aspirations
With four of a possible six points in their first two games, and no regulation losses, the Northern Manitoba Blizzard are well poised to make the playoff round this coming weekend at the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary.
The top junior A champions from across the country are battling it out for national supremacy, and the Blizzard are showing they can hang with the best. They rallied for a single overtime loss point in their opener, and had their best period in the third of their second game to earn a crucial round-robin victory. And in a tournament where winning in regulation earns you three points in the standings, a clean victory can make all the difference when it comes to who makes the playoffs and who doesn’t.
“If you go down with zero or one points in two games, you’re basically chasing the rest of the tournament,” noted Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager Eric Labrosse. “It’s pretty tight in the standings, pretty much everyone has beat everyone else so far, so it’s really important to pick up points every game if you want to make the playoffs. We feel you need probably eight points to get into the playoffs.”
Blizzard crowned champions
It took the Northern Manitoba Blizzard three attempts and three extra overtime periods, but it was well worth the effort as they finally captured the Turnbull Cup as MJHL champions last Thursday in Dauphin.
Quincy Supprien (fifth) scored on an innocent looking shot off a draw in the Dauphin zone at the 14:03 mark, lifting the Blizzard to a 2-1 (3OT) Game 7 victory in front of 2,246 fans.
Second year Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager, Eric Labrosse, said once they were sure the puck crossed the line, the celebration was on.
“It was a feeling of relief, excitement and joy all mixed together,” said Labrosse. “It was tough to see on the bench if it went in, and when the light went on and the players started jumping, I realized we scored. After that, we had a huge group hug, and the players were on the ice celebrating. It was pure joy for several minutes.
Blizzard punch ticket to MJHL Final
For the first time since 2017, the Northern Manitoba Blizzard will vie for the Turnbull Cup.
The Blizzard swept the Winker Flyers out of the playoffs Thursday night, denying the defending champions, and the top seeded team in the MJHL, a chance to repeat.
“The sweep was never a thing for us when we prepared,” said Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager, Eric Labrosse. “You never go into any series thinking you’re going to sweep, you just want to win.
Blizzard earn valuable points
It seems all but certain the OCN Blizzard and Dauphin Kings will meet in the first round of the MJHL playoffs in just a few short weeks.
And fans got a preview of that last week as the Blizzard rattled off a pair of key divisional victories, including one over the red-hot Dauphin Kings Friday night, who themselves handed the Steinbach Pistons a second straight loss, following an 11-game win streak, on Saturday.
“Our weekend was important to get back on track, and back in the win column,” said OCN Head Coach and General Manager Eric Labrosse.” They knew Dauphin was breathing down our necks.
“I thought the Dauphin win was a textbook playoff-type win – we came out strong in the first, they pushed back hard in the second and third but we were able to play consistent for 60,” he added. “I thought that game was a preview of what a playoff matchup against them could look like.”
Blizzard take five of six weekend points
After a tough loss last week, OCN Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager Doug Johnson said that he was looking for six points at home with the Neepawa Titans coming to town for three games in less than 48 hours.
They nearly pulled it off, earning five of a possible six (as they did in their three games in Neepawa earlier this year).
So, is five of six points and 10 of a possible 12 for the season series enough for Johnson and his team?
“Five out of six points – we’re not going to complain,” said Johnson after Sunday’s loss. “We wish it was six out of six, but we’re moving in the right direction. We like where we’re at, and ahead of where we thought we’d be, and that’s a credit to the players and the buy in.”
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