Preview: Blizzard vs Neepawa

It's the best versus the worst in the Sher-Wood division tonight, but the way the Blizzard have played over the last two games things may be a little more even. It's also pink in the rink tonight.

The Blizzard will play in pink jerseys tonight which will be auctioned off after the game via silent auction. Great Christmas gift for the Blizz fan in your life. All proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Clay DeBray makes his head coaching debut in the interim role. Spending countless hours around the team and coaching staff I can assure you the Blizzard (24-9-3) are in good hands with Clay.

He's taken the time to go out and get his high performance certification (he's able to coach up to minor pro in Canada, including major junior) from Hockey Canada, knows the game tremendously well not just on the board, but the mental aspect of high performance with young athletes as well. (This is no shot across the bow to Jim Mollard). The players have a tremendous amount of respect for Clay and many of them have known him for years (McDonald, Baptiste, Dumais, Waskewitch, TJ Constant... to name a few)

I expect the Blizzard to come out hungry after their performances over the last two games, and win one for Clay.

The Blizzard got some help in the standings courtesy of the Selkirk Steelers who took down the Dauphin Kings 4-3, the Kings will play two more games this weekend and make up some ground in terms of games in hand.

Coming up North tonight are the Neepawa Natives (8-18-4), who have won two in a row on the back of their goaltender Corey Koop. Koop in my mind is a top 3 goaltender in this league in talent. He would be the best goalie in the league statistically on even an average team in this league.

The Blizzard are the better team, but will want to put on another dominating performance against Neepawa before three more big divisional games ahead of the Christmas break (Waywayseecappo, Dauphin x2) in an effort to get back on track.

Thomas Ward-Cardinal has returned home for personal reasons, will be back with the club after the Christmas break.

The special teams tonight break down as follows:

Neepawa:

PP: 16.67% (11)
PK: 78.95% (5)

OCN:

PP: 16.91% (10)
PK: 84.29% (1)

Blizz Streaks:

Tyler Grove - has 5 points in his last 3 games.
TJ Contsant - has 7 points in his last 3 games.
Justin Waskewitch - has 9 points in his last 5 games.
Kolton Baptiste - has 2 points in his last 2 games.

I'll get the lineup posted for you all before the game, but will not be in attendance as it is the CJ1240 Christmas party tonight.

Hope you all enjoy tonight's game.

Will try and get something of substance posted for tomorrow.

-Brad-