Manitoba Blizzard
Manitoba Blizzard are a Junior B box lacrosse team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blizzard compete in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| League | Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League |
| Division | RMLL East |
| Based in | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Arena | Maples Community Centre |
| General manager | Terry Williams |
| Championships | 2 (2016, 2017) |
| Division titles | 3 (2017, 2018, 2019) |
History
Formed in 2010 as the Manitoba Gryphons, the team was the first Manitoba-based team to join the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. After a two-year probationary period the Gryphons were granted full league membership for the 2012 season in which they finished 10-9-0, sixth best in the 10-team league. They Gryphons were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
The Gryphons hosted Founders Cup 2013[1] in Winnipeg finishing in fifth place. The team would see ownership/management changes in the off-season and were renamed the Blizzard. The club also relocated from their original home in Oakbank to Notre Dame Arena.
As the lone Junior B team in the province, the Gryphons/Blizzard annually represent Manitoba at Founders Cup. The team has played for the Bronze medal on four occasions falling short each time.
It hosted the Founders Cup 2019 in Winnipeg.
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | Founders Cup finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 127 | 130 | 5th of 6 South | Not eligible | 4th - Lost vs Saskatchewan SWAT |
| 2012 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 170 | 201 | 4th of 6 South | Lost vs Calgary Shamrocks (2-1) | 7th |
| 2013 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | 189 | 174 | 3rd of 6 South | Won vs Calgary Chill (2-0); Lost vs Calgary Mountaineers (2-0) | 5th |
| 2014 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 207 | 180 | 3rd of 6 South | DNQ | 4th - Lost vs Nova Scotia |
| 2015 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 209 | 145 | 2nd of 5 North | Won vs Edmonton Warriors (3-1); Round robin (2-1); Won vs Calgary Chill; Lost vs Saskatchewan SWAT | 5th |
| 2016 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 235 | 151 | 3rd of 6 South | Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (2-1); Won vs Red Deer Rampage; Won vs Chill[2][3] - Champion | 8th |
| 2017 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 247 | 170 | 1st of 6 North | Round robin (2-1); Won vs Chill; Won vs Rampage[4][5] - Champion | 4th - Lost vs Seneca WarChiefs |
| 2018 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 246 | 116 | 1st of 3 East | Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (1-3) | 4th - Lost vs Coquitlam Adanacs |
| 2019 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 203 | 189 | 1st of 3 East | Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (TBD) | TBD |
Founders Cup
CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
| Year | Round Robin | Record W-L-T | Standing | Semifinal | 5th Place Game | Bronze Medal Game | Gold Medal Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Calgary, AB | L, Akwesasne Indians 8-15 L, Seneca WarChiefs 6-19 OTW, Calgary Mountaineers 7-6 L, Coquitlam Adanacs 7-10 L, Saskatchewan SWAT 3-15 OTW, Calgary Chill 11-10 | 2-4-0 | 5th of 7 | W, Saskatchewan SWAT 9-6 | |||
| 2016 Orangeville, ON | L, Seneca WarChiefs 8-12 L, Orangeville Northmen 3-9 OTL, Coquitlam Adanacs 9-10 L, Clarington Green Gaels 1-15 | 0-3-1 | 4th of 4 Pool B | L, Team Nova Scotia 13-6 | L, Coquitlam Adanacs 9-12 | ||
| 2017 Saskatoon, SK | L, Red Deer Rampage 9-11 L, Orangeville Northmen 8-12 W, Saskatchewan SWAT 16-15 W, Coquitlam Adanacs 14-11 L, Red Deer Rampage 7-10 | 2-3-0 | 4th of 6 | L, Seneca WarChiefs 8-15 | |||
| 2018 Akwesasne | W, Saskatchewan SWAT 10-6 L, Elora Mohawks 8-17 W, Mohawks Medicine Men 13-7 | 2-1-0 | 2nd of 3 Pool A | OTL, Calgary Shamrocks 8-9 | L, Coquitlam Adanacs 8-9 | ||
| 2019 Winnipeg, MB | W, North Shore Kodiaks 16-13 W, Seneca WarChiefs 11-10 L, Calgary Shamrocks 5-13 W, Saskatchewan SWAT 11-8 L, Six Nations Rebels 3-16 L, Coquitlam Adanacs 5-11 | 3-3-0 | 4th of 7 | L, Coquitlam Adanacs 4-7 |
References
- "Gryphons about more than lacrosse". Winnipeg Free Press. August 20, 2013.
- "Ritchie brothers help Blizzard capture lacrosse league championship". Thompson Citizen. August 10, 2016.
- "Manitoba Blizzard ready to defend Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League title". Global News. April 26, 2017.
- "Blizzard win second lacrosse championship". Winnipeg Free Press. September 11, 2017.
- "Thompson athletes lead Manitoba Blizzard to victory yet again". Thompson Citizen. August 15, 2017.