OCN Acquires Waskewitch From Battlefords

On the sport report last night Blizzard GM Derek Fontaine alluded to two moves to bring in some help offensively.

Justin Waskewitch

The first was Roger Tagoona which was announced earlier today, and now the Blizzard have acquired 5'11 180lb RW Justin Waskewitch from Battlefords North Stars of the SJHL, in return the Blizzard have sent future considerations to Battlefords.

Waskewitch is a 20 year old from Cut Knife, Saskatchewan who picked up 51 points in 47 games with Nipawin last season.

Waskewitch started the season with the Ochapawace Thunder of the Prairie Junior Hockey League due to personal reasons and had his rights dealt from Nipawin to Battlefords.

Throughout his SJHL career in parts of four seasons with three different teams Waskewitch has scored 38 goals and has picked up a total of 109 points in 152 games (according to the elite prospects numbers he's only played 14 games this season, in reality he has played 15), giving Waskewitch a 0.72 PPG

Today's acquisitions gives OCN some serious depth up front, and gives the Blizzard a legitimate top end player to play with TJ Constant and who ever is on his left wing.

The Blizzard will have seven top six forwards when Gray & TJ Constant return from injury. A good problem to have and will give the Blizzard more depth when inevitably more injuries hit the club.

Waskewitch will not play tomorrow night, he might play against Dauphin on Friday as paper work needs to get sorted out.

As for Tagoona he has a two games suspension from the SJHL to serve and will not play until Sunday in Swan Valley.

Tagoona practiced with the Blizzard today and Waskewitch will be in OCN tomorrow.

I have an interview set for 10 am with Blizzard GM Derek Fontaine.

I will post it here once it is finished, and will also run it during the second intermission of tomorrow's broadcast.

Here are Waskewitch's numbers

OCN Acquires Roger Tagoona From Estevan

The OCN Blizzard have acquired F (92) Roger Tagoona from the Estevan Bruins for future considerations.

Roger Tagoona

He's a big boy at 6'0, 195lbs and plays a physical game.

Tagoona has played 126 games in the SJHL racking up 70 points in parts of three seasons with Melville, Battlefords and Estevan.

The Rankin Inlet Native has scored 26 goals over his Jr.A career and averages 0.55 points per game.

Tagoona is from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and played midget hockey with the NorMan Northstars.

Will hopefully have an interview and more information later today.

Tagoona will practice with the team today, possibly play tomorrow in Neepawa.

**EDIT: Tagoona is suspended for 2 games and will serve the suspension from the SJHL. Tagoona's first chance to play will be Sunday in Swan River.**

I would expect maybe another move from the Blizzard this week.

Here are Tagoona's stats.

Blizzard Climb to 5 in National Rankings

The latest CJHL rankings are out, and the OCN Blizzard are back in the fifth spot, three ahead of the Winnipeg Blues.

Here is the release from the CJHL:

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting announced today its Weekly Top 20 rankings for the week of November 19th. Last week's rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, November 19th:

1. (1) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. (2) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
3. (3) Truro Bearcats (MHL)
4. (5) Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
5. (8) OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
6. (6) Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
7. (17) Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)
8. (4) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) 
9. (10) Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
10. (9) Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
11. (15) Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
12. (11) Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) 
13. (13) Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
14. (18) Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
15. (12) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
16. (7) Melville Millionaires (SJHL) 
17. (16) Yarmouth Jr. 'A' Mariners (MHL)
18. (HM) North Bay Trappers (NOJHL)
19. (19) Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL) 
20. (20) Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)

Honourable Mention goes to the Yorkton Terriers (SJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL), Oakville Blades (OJHL), Nepean Raiders (CCHL).

The weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.

** I will have some information about all of this weekend's action up later tonight. 

Team Canada West Roster Announced

Dean Brockman and company have chosen the 22 players who will represent Canada West at the World Junior A Championships in two weeks time. The team might as well called "Team BCHL"

Here is the full roster: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75137/la_id/1/season_id/197655/profile_id/197666/team_id/80789/ss_id/170547/

League Representation:

BCHL: 15 players
AJHL: 4 players
SJHL: 2 players
MJHL: 2 players (Keats & Stoykewich from WPG)

Sport Report Lineup For Tonight / 8-9 PM

A pretty good show lined up for tonight.

We'll hear from Jaret Schneider in Thompson who chats with a few NorMan Northstars and Cassie Campbell.

I had a chance to interview Michael Hunt who runs the Alkalis Sting program out of Winnipeg and will be bringing his high intensity camps to The Pas on Thursday/Friday of this week. You can get in contact with Michael to register by giving him a call at 204-807-1551 or by emailing him at huntsy15@live.com

Rob Hart and I will also chat about the great start for the Flin Flon Bombers.

I will also chat with Dennis Beyak the voice of the Winnipeg Jets on TSN-Jets TV and TSN 1290 get his thoughts on the lockout.

Some Blizzard and Storm chat as well.

Blizzard Crack Top 10 in National Rankings

A hot start for the OCN Blizzard has them sitting pretty in the eyes of the CJHL.

Here is the release from the CJHL:

The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting announced today its Weekly Top 20 rankings for the week of October 1st. 2012. Last week's rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

The CJHL Weekly Top 20 as of Monday, October 1st:

1. (2) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

2. (1) Penticton Vees (BCHL)

3. (15) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)

4. (10) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)

5. (9) Sudbury Nickel Barons (NOJHL)

6. (13) Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)

7. (17) Truro Bearcats (MHL)

8. (12) Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL) 

9. (HM) OCN Blizzard (MJHL)

10. (11) Coquitlam Express (BCHL)

11. (NR) Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)

12. (HM) North Bay Trappers (NOJHL)

13. (NR) Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)

14. (5) Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)

15. (20) Oakville Blades (OJHL)

16. (19) Carlton Place Canadians (CCHL)

17. (16) Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)

18. (3) Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)

19. (NR) Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)

20. (NR) Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)

Honourable Mention goes to the Merritt Centennials (BCHL), Drayton Valley Thunder (AJHL), Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL), Granby Inouk (LHJAAAQ), Summerside Western Capitals (MHL).

The weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams play, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.

The CJHL is an amalgamation of ten Junior A hockey leagues from across Canada. 

Blizzard Fall 5-4 in Flin Flon

Just a quick recap, full "About Last Night..." To come tomorrow.

First of all, I want to apologize for us going off air, nothing we could have controlled as we use VOIP phones at the station and they take about 15 minutes to restart, but still not wanted.

Second, hope you all enjoyed the broadcast tonight.


A few quick notes-

* Derek Fontaine mentioned during the second intermission that the Blizzard have come to an agreement with another team regarding another defencemen to replace Joey Sutherland. Fontaine says the player is from out of province. Once the trade is confirmed and I have all the final details I will pass them along to you, should be done by Thursday the latest.

* I thought Alex Henry looked great, as did Jim Mollard. Hopefully he can step in and solidify the goaltending position.

* Obviously penalties killed the Blizzard tonight, 10 in total. Some warranted, some not so much.

I did get a post game with Jim Mollard on my recorder, but soundcloud is giving me trouble, and I figure since I'm battling a cold I won't sit here and battle with soundcloud all night. I'll upload it tomorrow with About Last Night...

That's it for tonight, more to come tomorrow.

-Brad-