Another year outside the playoffs
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Blues were a team to be feared and boasted top-end talent. Those days are getting further away.
Last season, there were glimpses. There were moments where the Blues looked as though they might be trending back toward that level of previous success but they never quite got back to that level.
Tasked with facing tough opponents in a division that does not allow much room for error when it comes to position in the standings, it was an uphill battle early, and it never got easier.
On top of that, many of the names from last year have now moved on, and they’ll be looking to bring in a whole new crop of players to learn a whole new system, as they look to get back to those glory days.
New hands on the wheel
Aaron Kaatz has been given the task of guiding the Blues back onto a path that leads upward.
From the Blues release on the news talking about Kaatz: “Kaatz joins the Blues with a decorated resume that underscores his ability to lead and develop high-performance athletes. Most recently, he served as an Assistant Coach for Team Manitoba U18 and spent three successful seasons as the Head Coach of the Interlake Lightning U18 AAA program. His extensive background also includes a significant tenure with the Balmoral Hall Hockey program, where he honed his skills in navigating the high-pressure environment of elite prep sports. This wealth of experience ensures that the Blues’ bench is led by a tactician who understands what it takes to succeed at the highest provincial levels.”
2026-27 season outlook
Until they prove otherwise, the Blues will have to earn their way to convincing anyone outside of the organization that they are for real.
That being said, with Kaatz at the helm, there is definite opportunity for growth, which goes beyond the record by the end of the season.
Bringing in players who they can build on year over year will be crucial, and with the amount of opportunity they can offer, it will give them some talented players who they do that with.
