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OCN Storm

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The OCN Storm (short for Opaskwayak Cree Nation Storm ) are a Canadian junior B ice hockey team based in Opaskwayak Cree Nation , Manitoba . They are members of the Keystone Junior Hockey League and play out of the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre .

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15-645: OCN Storm were founded in 2012. They are the second junior hockey franchise to play in OCN, the first being the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League . In their opening season, the Storm won just two games out of 36, finishing last in the league standings, thus missing the playoffs. The following season they improved their record to 12–21–0–1, finishing third in the new four-team North Division. They fell in

30-475: 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 . Source: "OCN Blizzard hockey team statistics and history" . hockeydb.com . Retrieved 22 September 2024 . Many players have used the OCN Blizzard as a stepping stone into a career in the professional leagues across Canada,

45-847: 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

60-1323: The National Hockey League . In the 1990s a new logo taking heavy inspiration from the first Dallas Stars logo would be brought into use, and remains the team's logo today, along with the black and silver colour scheme. The team's name was also shortened to "Battlefords North Stars". The team celebrated its 50th anniversary in June 2023. Advance to Centennial Cup Western Canada Championships ** BCHL - AJHL - SJHL - MJHL - Host ** Round robin play with 1st vs 2nd - winner advance to National Championship & loser to Runner-up Game 3rd vs 4th in 2nd semi-final winner to Runner-up game loser eliminated. Runner-up game determines 2nd representative to National Championship. Competition began 2013 season. Ended following 2017 playoffs. Canadian Jr. A National Championships 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

75-605: 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

90-605: 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

105-821: 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

120-647: The United States, and Europe. Battlefords North Stars The Battlefords North Stars are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in North Battleford , Saskatchewan , Canada, that plays in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League . The team was founded in 1973 as the Battlefords Barons and has been known as the North Stars since 1983. They have won four SJHL Championships, most recently in 2023. The team

135-634: The first round of the playoffs being swept by the Arborg Ice Dawgs . In their third season of 2014–15 the Storm finished fifth in the league and won their first-ever playoff series against the North Winnipeg Satelites . OCN was eliminated in the second round by the Peguis Juniors . The league again split into two divisions for 2015-2016 season. OCN Storm met up with the Juniors in a rematch of

150-578: The league, but were upset in the semifinals by the Peguis Juniors losing the series 3 games to 2. 6th of 8, KJHL After 2017 only Northern Ontario and Manitoba OCN Blizzard The Northern Manitoba 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 as founded by

165-532: The previous season, coming out short dropping the series 4 games to 2. In the 2016-2017 season the Storm clinched the newly realigned North Division. After eliminating the Cross Lake Islanders in four games OCN were knocked out in the second round by the Central Division winner Arborg Ice Dawgs . The Storm repeated as North Division champs in 2017-2018, but were eliminated by the Arborg Ice Dawgs in

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180-705: The quarterfinals. Two veterans (Ethan Stuckless and Bryce Young) advanced to play in the CJHL with the Red Lake Miners following their season with the Storm. Both had their success in the SIJHL with Young posting 101 points on his way to being nominated as a CJHL Top Rookie finalist. In the 2018-2019 season the OCN Storm were one of the four active teams in the Keystone Junior Hockey League. The Storm finished second in

195-468: 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

210-548: Was founded in 1973 when the team's first board of directors, led by Art Streuby, created a franchise to join the SJHL named the Battlefords Barons. In the team's first season, they posted an abysmal record of 10–40–0, improving to 31-26-1 the following year. In 1983-84 the team's name was changed to the North Battleford North Stars, adopting a logo similar to their namesake, the Minnesota North Stars in

225-466: 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

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