Blizzard vs Blues Preview + Teddy Bear Toss

It's another big match up for the OCN Blizzard (22-8-3), essentially every game up to the break is either against a top team or in the division (except for Winkler tomorrow).

TJ Constant returns tonight: Photo Credit - SP Personius

The Winnipeg Blues (20-9-0) roll into town on Teddy Bear Toss night. The Blues gave the Blizzard a bit of a boost last night beating the Stampeders 4-3 in overtime.

Meanwhile the Virden Oil Capitals stunned the Dauphin Kings at Credit Union Place 7-4.

OCN got some help last night and can increase their cushion on top spot in the league with a win against the high flying Winnipeg Blues who boast the MJHL's only NHL draft ranked player in Paul Stoykewych (Kurt Keats was in the preseason rankings but fell off in the central scouting mid season report).

The Blues come into tonight's match up having gone 6-4 in their last ten, while OCN is 6-2-2.

The Blues game is all about offence, open play with tons of speed and skill they average a blistering league high of 4.62 goals and their 3.17 goals against per game is 4th best in the MJHL.

Meanwhile OCN allows the a league best of 2.79 goals per game while scoring 3.82 goals per game which is fourth in the league (see a pattern?)

It's a battle of offense versus defense tonight.

As is only natural with such a high scoring team the Blues have one of the top PP units in the league at 22.54% (3rd) while their PK is at 79.84% (4th).

For the home team things haven't changed for OCN as they still boast the worst PP in the league (15.75%) and the best PK (84.57%)

Will have more on the Blizzard lineup a little later on, TJ Constant to make his return tonight, Gray was expected to return this weekend, will find out if he's in the lineup a little closer to game time.

Here are the top 5 leading scorers for the Blues:

9-Connor Cleverly (92) - 17G, 15A - 32PTS
8-Jake Heisinger (92) - 10G, 22A - 32PTS
21-Jeremy Olinyk (92) - 10G, 20A - 30PTS
11-Kurt Keats (95) - 13G, 15A - 28PTS
12-Jared Morris (93) - 10G, 15A - 25PTS

Tonight is also the Teddy Bear Toss. Every time the OCN Blizzard score fans are asked to throw teddy bears on the ice. All the stuffed animals will be donated to charity. They held the same event at a Calgary Hitmen game a few weeks ago and it went pretty well...




Here's a 4th Line Hockey Show special with Keats and Stoykewych from last February before they went to the World U-17's...