Putting last season behind them
There were not a lot of positives when it came to results last year for the Blizzard, but that didn’t stop fans from coming out, volunteers from showing up, and it proved that the community will be behind them. The good news is, they are primed to be much better.
Too often last season, the Blizzard would be in games and fell apart late, either through inexperience or running out of gas. They couldn’t find consistent goal-scoring. Defending in their own zone was spotty, and goaltending battled, but could only hold the fort for so long.
Major changes around the organization, a new outlook, and quality players coming in should provide some excitement for fans.
New bench boss
Josh Gratton comes in having spent a couple years in the MJHL and brings with him a style, a reputation, and a certain level of expectation, both on and off the ice.
Having great community support, a local owner who is invested, and volunteers willing to work just as hard as he is, Gratton can focus on the hockey side of things, which should lead to growth and success for the Blizzard.
New season, new challenges
With that, there comes a lot of turnover and new faces to mold into a winnable system.
A completely new crop of players, some with MJHL experience, others without, that he will have to manage. Early on in camp and preseason, the players will look to find their way into certain roles and will have every opportunity to step up and make a claim on a key spot.
The big new addition is Liam Carlone, a dedicated, two-way player who has offensive upside combined with a “follow me” kind of work ethic. He, along with the likes of Kade Stringer, Matthew O’Sullivan, and Brady Green, will be the table setters for this year, and what the organization wants to be long-term.
Back on the blueline is a budding star in John Adlys. Coming off 20 points in 47 games, the smooth-skating defender will have more confidence and more help around him.
The same could be said for in the crease, where Kannen Kirkwood comes in after battling in 29 MJHL games last year where he was peppered nightly and proved he could steal games for his team. He has that ability but might not have to shoulder the load as much as he did.
Outlook for 2026-27
On paper, a return to the playoffs could be a real possibility for this team, which would be a huge step coming off the 8-win season prior. Could they even be in a battle for the right to host the first game in a playoff series? We’ll find out and that’s why they play the games.
For now, they’ll look to get off to a hot start and put the league back on notice just one season removed from capturing the Turnbull Cup in 2025.
