Winners of the previous three Dakota Nation Winterfest Senior Hockey Tournaments, the Norway House Bruins are returning for 2017 looking to add another trophy to their ever expanding trophy case. Goaltender Edward Sonny Albert tells bdnmb.ca that in order to defend the Bruins will have to do the little things right...things that they as a team communicate about each year year. This year they plan on returning a majority of the same roster that they have iced in previous Winterfest tournaments. While some teams load up, or rely heavily on imports to fill their respective rosters, the Bruins roster is comprised primarily of Norway House Band Members (80%). Offensively the Bruins are lead each year by forwards Skyler Tait-Reaume, Myles Stevens and Kevin Braun. Roy Ettawacappo and Brent Wilson anchor a stingy Bruins defense, while Sonny Albert is as solid a goaltender you will find in the tournament. Veteran referee Ernest Elder said that he appreciates the style of play the Norway House Bruins bring to the rink each game. “They're a fast team, their power-play is really dangerous and they play a hard-nosed brand of hockey” said Ernest from his home in Gladstone. Depending on the availability of players the Bruins try to play in at least 5 tournaments each season, focusing primarily on the larger tournaments. Hopefully, if the timing is right, they would like to find time get into a few more tournaments this season. First up will be defending their title, and taking home the $15,000 first place prize money, during the 2017 Dakota Nation Winter Fest. This years tournament will be held January 27-29 inside Westman Communications Group Place.   Members of the Norway House Bruins celebrate their 2016 win.

A former member of the Yellowhead Chiefs, Shaq Merasty, has been named to the roster of Men's Team Canada which will compete for the 2017 ISBHF World Ball Hockey Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Not bad for a player who never played competitive ball hockey until 2014, when he was introduced to the sport by a few buddies that he had played ice hockey with before. Born in Thompson, and raised in Minnedosa. Shaq has always been a gifted ice hockey player, having spent time with both the Yellowhead Chiefs of the MMHL, and with the Portage Terriers of the MJHL. He now has been a member the University of Manitoba Bison's hockey program for the past 3-seasons. His best year in the MJHL came in 2011-12 where he registered 60 points in only 38 games. For Shaq this will mark his first time representing Canada in International competition. He first heard that he had made the team in the middle of October when he received a call from from the GM of Team Canada, Jeff Dzikowicz. Initially, he shared the news with some members of his family, and his girlfriend, before the final roster was named at the beginning of December. Shaq tells bdnmb.ca that the biggest adjustment from ice hockey to ball hockey is the incorporation of a floating blue line: meaning once the attacking team takes the ball over the defending teams blue line they have zone possession, and the blue line moves essentially to the red line creating a much bigger offensive zone When asked what he was most looking forward to about representing his country Shaq said “I'm most looking forward to the atmosphere of the fans playing in the Czech Republic...I have heard from other players who have played at worlds before and they say attendance is very high at these events.... also the chance to play against the best ball hockey players in the world”. Five other Manitobans also were named to the final roster including Dererk Gingera, Dustin Kelly, Remi Laurencelle, Kevin Marchuk and goalie Kyle Mcholm. One of team Canada's assistant coaches is Ray Cook who is also the Team Manitoba ball hockey head coach. The tournament will be held from June 1st – 11th, 2017 in Pardubice, Czech Republic.   Shaq Merasty (right)

I can remember the announcement of the OCN Blizzard, as a new MJHL franchise, like it was yesterday. I was working at IMTV in Dauphin and drove into Winnipeg, where Boh Kubrakovich and Wayne Hawrysh were there representing the team and the community; while Frank McKinnon beamed as he made the official proclamation the Manitoba Junior Hockey League was adding a team. Boh gave me a white Blizzard jersey, which I still have to this day and I’m not even a jersey collector. I can recall wondering if this team would survive even three years. I looked at its northern post as a home base and combined that with clear favoritism towards the south (specifically the Winnipeg clubs) and figured it would only be a matter of time before the odds were stacked against them from icing a competitive team. Was I ever wrong. Leonard Strandberg and Gardiner MacDougall were brought in to be the club’s first General Manager/Head Coach tandem and that was, perhaps, the best decision that franchise ever made over the next 20 years. Leonard, later, brought Kerry Clark to coach once MacDougall moved on to the Canadian college ranks. What ended up happening was a five year reign atop the league with Turnbull Cup after Turnbull Cup. They even went on to a final in the RBC Cup, where they lost to Halifax in the gold medal game of 2002. What also ended up happening is that the OCN Blizzard made the MJHL a better league. Their elevated play caused teams like the Selkirk Steelers, Portage Terriers, and Dauphin Kings to step up their games in order to dethrone the mighty Blizzard. Not to mention the Neepawa Natives, who were coached by Jeff Pister. I’m convinced Neepawa had a title or two in them had it not been for the Blizzard. In fact, Neepawa’s team of 2001 was, exceptionally, good. If I recall, they were the Blizzard’s toughest foe on their way to a fourth straight MJHL title. I was in the rink at the old DMCC in 2006 when the Blizzard completed their 3-games-to-1 series comeback against the Kings. I have to admit while Marlin Murray is a personal friend of mine and I’ve always enjoyed working and chatting with Doug Hedley, I found myself, quietly, rooting for the Blizzard, who were led by Drew Schoneck. As an aside, I also remember Drew’s name being a finalist for the Yorkton Terriers coaching job a few years earlier when Don Chesney was awarded the title. Drew would, also, have been a great choice. I can’t imagine the legendary status some of the alumni have in the community. I know, myself, whenever I see names like Marc-Andre Leclerc, Jordin Tootoo, Konrad McKay, Matt Summers, Jamie Muswagon, Michael Young, Aaron Starr, Justin Williams (heck even when I hear the NHL Justin Williams’ name...I think of the MJHL player), Lem Randall, Mark and Paul Wallmann, and Everett Bear I am instantly taken back to some of the best Junior ‘A’ hockey I’ve ever seen in my life. And, I can’t help but also, occasionally, think of guys like Terence Tootoo, Cliff Duchesne, and Darcy Johnson. Even though I didn’t know them personally, I know their impact on the people of OCN as well as their peers and folks in their hometowns was something beyond what I can write in a story. Stories that players, coaches, parents, and opposing teams’ fans would tell me from whenever they played at the GLMC would blow my mind. While sometimes local home fans would cross a line, there is no denying the love people had for the Blizzard. Looking back, it’s hard to take issue with the passion. A lot of that is missing from our game today. However, they say that all good things must come to an end and Wednesday, December 20th it was announced the OCN Blizzard would cease operations at the end of the 2016-17 season. My understanding is that they aren’t dead yet. There’s another meeting January 5th and I hope something will break in the franchise’s favor. But, these are trying economic times for many communities. The discussion about how Junior ‘A’ hockey can continue to thrive when expenses keep going up while revenue isn’t trending in the same direction at the same rate is a topic for another day. The Blizzard still have life and the aforementioned Doug Hedley is now their coach. Doug’s teams are never bad. In fact, this one is third overall in the league at 22-11-and-3 as I write this and, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them end their tenure the same way it began: with an appearance in an MJHL final. Here’s one fan from outside the Manitoba north who is sitting by, watching, and cheering. Good luck

  The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) have made an announcement that the 2016/17 season would be the last for the OCN Blizzard. The Blizzard are a member of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and play out of the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre. They have won the Turnball Cup, awarded annually to the MJHL Champion, a total of 5-times in their 20-year existence. The Blizzard were founded in 1996 by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas, Manitoba "The announcement comes after careful deliberations with Opaskwayak Cree Nation representatives from administration and finance, who presented recommendations to the Opaskwayak Cree Nation leadership," "Based on the information presented, the decision was made to proceed with winding down on the operations of the OCN Blizzard, announced officially on December 20, 2016." Notable alumni of the Blizzard include current Chicago Blackhawks winger Jordin TooToo and Steve MacIntyre, who played in 91 NHL games with three different teams.

Brandon Wheat King defenseman Kale Clague has been named to the 22 man roster who will represent Canada at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. An offensive defensemen by trade, Clague has registered 19 points in 24 games this season. He has previously represented Canada internationally at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in 2015, where he helped Canada capture Gold in that event. The smooth skating rearguard was drafted last summer in the second round, 51st overall, by the Los Angeles Kings. This years tournament will be played in Toronto and Montreal starting on boxing day.