MJHL’s Blizzard re-brand to better represent northern MB
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Fans of the Steinbach Pistons and Niverville Nighthawks will notice a new team name when they look at their teams’ 2024/2025 schedule.
The OCN Blizzard have officially re-branded, and are now known as the Northern Manitoba Blizzard (NorMan). The team already dropped the “OCN” from their name after they moved from an arena on Opaskwayak Cree Nation land to an arena in The Pas last season, but have now changed to a regional name.
The name-change came just a few weeks after new ownership took control of the franchise. One of the team’s new owners, Rob White, is from Churchill. He said it felt like the team has been “in limbo” the past few seasons and the name change is a sign the club has a new direction, but is still honouring the past.
“We wanted to show the inclusion and unity that we have in the Northern region of our province,” White said in a Manitoba Junior Hockey League news release.
“The Blizzard crest means so much to all of Northern Manitoba; and it’s so fitting, because if you’ve ever been in a true Northern Manitoba Blizzard, you’ll know just how menacing it is.”
The Blizzard lost to the Steinbach Pistons in seven games in the MJHL semi-finals last season. It was the club’s first season with a playoff series victory since 2013. The team won the Turnbull Cup five consecutive years between 1999 and 2003.