TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED November 0 12, 2008

When talking to the Blizzard players before Friday’s game against Beausejour there was one thing they were truly united on and that was not to take the lowly Blades lightly. The guys were a loose bunch and I think the half hour delay helped them even more in what ended up being a 5-2 victory and then of course a 5-0 follow up on Saturday.

The end results could have been more lopsided but to the Blizzard it didn’t matter if the scores were 2-1, 10-1 or 10-9 they just wanted to end a 7-game losing streak and that is all that counted. So with that I say “mission accomplished”. Winning games you are supposed to win is what contending teams do and this year’s team is right there and battling for a playoff spot.

While the wins were most important it was also a weekend of good production and firsts for many players. Co-captain Kent Sauter and defenseman Dale Warkentin both scored their first goals of the season and David Aime grabbed his first career MJHL shutout. Meanwhile Matt Watson had a goal and an assist in both game and Jordan Hebert had 1 goal and 4 helpers over the 2 games.

Now I know people will say it was only the Blades they beat and blah blah blah! But ask the players if they cared who they just beat. They just wanted to win and better yet to do it on parent’s weekend. Needless to say there were more people happy than usual in the GLMC this past weekend.

PARENTS WEEKEND

The Blizzard organization deserves full marks for a great weekend in which so many parents visited our community for several days. I had the opportunity to meet many parents for the first time and talk to many I have known awhile. Regrettably, I did not get to meet some but I am hoping in due time that will happen.

Friday there was the meet and greet in the amazing Blizzard dressing room. Saturday before the game, 49 parents and billet parents where introduced on the ice and shown great appreciation by the team and the crowd at the GLMC. Following Saturday’s win, most gathered at the Kikiwak Inn for a meal and talk about the big wins of the weekend.

IN THE SYSTEM

One thing I have vowed to do more this year is follow how Blizzard prospects are doing, so here goes. Let’s start with defenseman Landon Hall of the Southwest Cougars who was named the defensive player of the month in the Manitoba AAA league. Hall is said to possess excellent leadership and one day could be a future captain. At just over 5’9 he may be too small for the WHL and that would be great for the Blizzard.

Cole Williams of The Pas is now 2nd in scoring on the Norman Northstars after the weekend with 7 goals and 6 assists. Ryan Delorme of OCN stopped 21 shots on Saturday as the Northstars blanked the Kenora Thistles 6-0. In Friday’s 6-2 win over the Thistles, The Pas’s Jaron Campbell scored his first goal of the season, while Northstars forward Cody Zulyniak helped out with the 3 assists over the 2 games. Thanks in part to those Blizzard prospects the Northstars have improved to 5-9-1-1.

There are many prospects the team has but those were just some players with big achievements that caught the eye of yours truly in the past few days. If anyone out there knows of any prospects with some big achievements/awards please let me know so I can post them in future blogs.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Just a reminder to all that I won’t be with the team this week for their games in Winnipeg and Winkler. Blizzard hockey returns to CJ 1240 on November 19th when we will be doing a rare weeknight home game as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines visit the GLMC.

The Blizzard lead the season series with Thursday’s opponent, the South Blues with a record of 2-1-1. The last meeting however was taken by the Blues 6-2.

The toughest game will be Sunday afternoon against the resurgent Winkler Flyers. The Blizzard won a pair of high-scoring affairs in early October up here but now Winkler has Dayn Belfour back and the “Junior Eagle” instantly makes the Flyers a better hockey club.

See ya at the rink!

jsmalley@arcticradio.ca