The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard recently announced a partnership with the OCN band.
A July 11 meeting between officials with the team and the band led to the reestablishment of what the Blizzard describe in a press release as “assistance and partnership.”
“It’s been some time since we have seen the detail and commitment from the OCN Blizzard organization and its board of directors,” said OCN chief Christian Sinclair in the statement.
In Dec. 2016, the band announced that the Blizzard would fold at the end of the season after a partnership between the band and team was ended.
However, the team pledged to go on and, after a deep playoff run and receiving support from businesses both in OCN and The Pas, the Blizzard hit the ice again for the 2017-18 season.
The Blizzard held the organization’s annual general meeting at Guy Hall on Aug. 9.
OCN will also have a new coach for this season. Matt Summers was hired for the position on July 26.
Summers, originally from Savage, Minn., played for the Blizzard for four seasons from 2003-04 to 2006-07, winning an MJHL title and ending the 2005-06 season as league finalist.
“These years were filled with non-stop thoughts of what I would do if I were ever in a position to coach the OCN Blizzard. Now it’s here and real,” said Summers in a press release issued by the Blizzard.
After finishing his 20-year-old season with 119 points in 63 games, Summers made the jump to the professional ranks, playing for teams in Texas, Mississippi, Kansas and Illinois. He served as the head coach of the Tri-City IceHawks in the United States Premier Hockey League last season.
Summers replaces former head coach and general manager Doug Hedley, who had two stints as the team’s head coach, first from 2006 to 2009, then from 2016 to 2018. Hedley left the team to serve as the coach of the Dauphin Kings, a post he has served in twice previously, from 1989 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006.
