The Pas, Manitoba | The Northern Manitoba Blizzard would like to congratulate Marlen Edwards, who has just been announced to play with Team Canada West; at the Junior A World Challenge in Camrose, Alberta, from December 9-15.

Edwards joins 4 other MJHL players, who were also announced today.

The Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club is well represented, with our Head Coach / General Manager Eric Labrosse being an Assistant Coach for the team, as well.

“Marlen’s selection to Team Canada West is a very well earned honour for himself.  He will get to wear Hockey Canada’s logo and experience an international event where the level of competition is very high.

Since the MJHL-SJHL showcase in Warman, Marlen has put in many good performances that did not go unnoticed.  In Marlen’s case, he was on the outside looking in coming into the MJ-SJ showcase, and step by step he managed to work his way into the roster with consistent performances.  His work ethic and over all play with and without the puck over 200 feet convinced Team Canada West staff that he has what it takes to be a great addition to the group.

It will most definitely be a great experience for Marlen and it’s a bonus that we will get to experience this great event together. He will come out of the World Junior A Challenge a more complete player.” – Eric Labrosse

We wish you the best of luck, we’ll all be cheering for you!

The Pas | NorMan Blizzard player Marlen Edwards has been invited to be one of 60 players attending Hockey Canada’s “Canada East” and “Canada West” selection camp, in advance of the 2024 Junior A World Challenge.

The Blizzard organization would like to wish Marlen the best of luck as he represents our club, and the MJHL at this prestigious event.

He will join Head Coach / GM Eric Labrosse, who was recently announced as Assistant Coach for Team Canada West.

For more information on the roster announcement, please visit Hockey Canada.

We invite everyone to take part in Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Week!  All proceeds stay local, with half going to Tim Hortons Summer Camp, and the other half to the Youth Centres in Opaskwayak.

Enjoy a smile, give a smile!

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard would like to congratulate Ethan Bibeau for receiving a ‘W’ rank in the NHL Central Scouting 2024-25 Preliminary Players To Watch list.

Bibeau suited up for 43 games with the Blizzard last season, earning 7 goals and 12 assists.

Congrats, Biebs!

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT | The Northern Manitoba Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club are extremely pleased to welcome Athletic Trainer Jacob Hill; and Equipment Manager Nicholas Dunk. Please join us in welcoming them!

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A member of NunatuKavut, the territory of Inuit residing primarily in southern and central Labrador, Jacob hails from a small northern community in Newfoundland and Labrador called Gunners Cove.

Since becoming a registered massage therapist in 2017, Jacob has dedicated his practice to enhancing athletic performance. He is a member of the Canadian Sports Massage Therapists Association and was introduced to the field while working with the St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL. Jacob has served as the head therapist for both the Deer Lake Red Wings and the Stephenville Lightning in the CWSHL. Additionally, he has contributed to Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador’s High-Performance program and was a member of the Canada Winter Games team in 2023 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Jacob’s expertise extends beyond the ice, as he has provided medical support at events such as the National Karate Championships in 2022 and the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials in 2024. He is trained in various fields, including Emergency Medical First Response, Concussion Assessment, and Advanced Sports Massage. As a Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach, Jacob continues to work with athletes and clients, helping them achieve their goals off the ice as well.

Jacob is passionate about giving back to his community through volunteer work and is an active advocate for healthy living, mental health and wellness, and Indigenous peoples’ rights.

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Nicholas hails from Guelph, Ontario, and recently relocated to Blumenort, MB, in July 2024.

He began his career as an equipment manager in 2015 with the former Guelph Hurricanes of the GOJHL while also working with the Guelph Storm of the OHL. During his time in Guelph, Nicholas earned the nickname “Dunker” and served as a dressing room attendant for both the home and visiting teams. After a season in the OHL, he returned to the GOJHL to take on the role of Head Equipment Manager from 2017 to 2019. From 2019 to 2022, Dunker joined the GMHL as Head Equipment Manager with the Niagara Predators.

In 2023, Nicholas expanded his role by taking on the position of Head Equipment Manager in the AJHL with the Drayton Valley Thunder, while also serving as a trainer for the first time in his career. In his free time, Dunker enjoys gaming and spending time with his family.

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“Adding individuals who share the same values, beliefs and passion as the organization, was a key factor in our search for our new athletic trainer and equipment manager. The process was not an easy one. Our search was extensive as we needed to find specific characteristics in each of our new staff members. It was really important to find staff that matched our needs as an organization as well as having a good dose of experience in their specific domain.

In Jacob Hill and Nicholas Dunk we have found just that. Both new staff members bring a wealth of experience in their specific roles. Their positive attitude and enthusiasm is contagious amongst the group and we are very fortunate to have them be a part of the Northern Manitoba Blizzard hockey staff.”

– HC/GM Eric Labrosse

Want to go behind the scenes of our club?   Take a listen, and go Beyond The Barn.   Get an intimate look at our organization and the hear the stories of the people that shape our club, and Northern hockey.

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The Pas, MB – The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is pleased to re-establish its partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Associations in communities across the league for another season of the Talk Today program.

Through close collaboration between teams and the CMHA, and with generous co-funding from the Fifth Line Foundation and NHL Foundation, the Talk Today program consists of three components that support athlete and community mental health:

• Education: all athletes participate in a mental health awareness and suicide prevention workshop that uses hockey-specific language and examples.

• Support: each team has access to a CMHA mental health coach who acts as a wayfinder to help anyone in need of support to find appropriate community resources, and each team appoints a mental health champion within their organization who players know they can go to as a first step for help.

• Awareness: teams and CMHAs collaborate on community awareness initiatives where possible, such as a dedicated awareness game each season, and promote their partnership on social media during ‘Talk Today month’ in February.

Talk Today is one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada. It promotes the mental health of young athletes and spreads awareness about the benefits of positive mental health throughout communities across the country. Since 2019, more than 4,200 athletes, staff and billets across the Canadian Junior Hockey League have participated in training through Talk Today.

Learn more about Talk Today at talktoday.ca.  

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club is happy to announce a five year agreement with Head Coach Eric Labrosse, and Assistant Coach and Paul-Antoine Deslauriers.

Management is ecstatic to build on the successes of last season, in our inaugural year representing Nor-Man.  The leadership of Labrosse as General Manager / Head Coach, and P.A. Deslauriers were integral to that success, and to the club’s vision.

Let’s keep building!