Blizzard Team History

IN THE BEGINNING...
If there are such things as expansion teams in adult recreational hockey, the Blizzard may be one of the better examples. The original team was formed in February 2001 by Sky Rink. Sky Rink's Division Five (D5) had a large number of interested individual players looking for a team in the division, and those players were essentially tossed together to form a brand new team, known as the Blizzard.

These players, most of whom did not know one another, officially came together for the first time, on the ice, March 4th, 2001 for the team's inaugural game. Ninety minutes later, the Blizzard had been thoroughly plowed over by the Leafs, 9-1. The honor of the first goal in team history went to winger Tom Carmony, who scored on a breakaway midway through the game. Despite the tough loss, it was the team's first ever game and was looked upon by most involved as a building block for the future.

Unfortunately, that "building block" game turned out to mirror the remainder of the season; the Blizzard proceeded to stink up D5 that spring, going winless (0-17-0) and getting outscored 178 to 12. When was the last time you saw a team ring up 15 goals in a hockey game? It happened twice that spring against the Blizzard.

ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK
Wisely, the Blizzard realized they weren't being outgunned and it was decided by the team to move down a division, to D6. The Blizzard made their D6 debut during the 2001 Summer 4-on-4 tournament, enjoying a breakthrough campaign highlighted by a 3 game winning streak to open the tournament, a 4-4-0 record in the round robin portion of the tournament, and qualifying for the tournament's playoff round.

Coming out of the summer tournament, hopes were high that the team would continue to improve during the regular Fall 2001 D6 campaign. That was not the case. The Blizzard found themselves experiencing many of the same struggles in D6 that they had in D5, and proceeded to lose the first 15 games of the Fall 2002 season. The team played a solid final three games of the season, winning two of three and losing the season finale by a goal.

The struggles continued in the Spring 2002 season. As with the previous season, the Blizzard began the campaign with hopes of building on the solid finish to the Fall season. Those hopes were quickly dashed, as the team proceeded to muck its way through the season, finishing winless (with an 18-game losing streak dating back to the finish of the Fall season).

TURNING A CORNER?
Once again, the Summer 4-on-4 tournament brought renewed hope to the team in 2002. The Blizzard recorded a solid win to open the tournament and went on to an up and down tournament, finishing 3-4-0-1 and just missing the playoff round.

The Fall 2002 season was a historic one for the Blizzard; for the first time in the team's brief existence, a second Blizzard squad took the ice. Despite the team's difficulties and lack of on-ice success, interest in the Blizzard was growing and led to addition of the second team. The Blizzard continued to compete in D6, while the new Blizzard team joined Division Seven (D7), the former Developmental Division.

Though no one knew exactly how the "split" would work out, it turned out to be a benefit for both teams and the club as a whole. Blizzard team membership expanded to more than 30 skaters and 3 goaltenders, and both teams achieved unprecedented (by Blizzard standards) success. The D6 squad posted a 17-point improvement over the Spring season, finishing 7-7-3-0, good for 7th in the division and earning the team its first-ever playoff berth. The D7 Blizzard was equally successful, finishing their inaugural campaign 6-5-1-0 and set club marks for consecutive wins, plus/minus, and hat tricks.

"KILLER SNOWFLAKES" WOULDN'T FIT ON A CREST
No one's really sure where the nickname "Blizzard" came from; over time, the name has grown on us and has stuck. Besides, what could be more effective at striking fear into the hearts of opponents than the thought of being pummeled by countless white, fluffy snowflakes, blowing straight toward you?