OCN Blizzard @ Dauphin Kings November 3rd

OCN BLIZZARD (10-4-1-2) 23 Points 4th in the Sherwood Division

DAUPHIN KINGS (9-9-2-0) 20 Points 5th in the Sherwood Division

The Dauphin Kings welcome the OCN Blizzard to Credit Union Place this evening for the first of eight meetings during the regular season.

The Kings were happy about their first and third period efforts in Swan River on Saturday, but a lull in the second period lead to a 4-3 loss to the Parkland rivals. The team also lost Matt McAleenan in the middle frame with a broken ankle and early indications are that he could be out until mid-January. In addition Mathew Backhouse is day to day with an upper body injury and forward Angus Klassen is expected to decide soon if he is able to return this year because of an ailment. Either way injuries continue to follow this club in November.

New acquisitions Shamus Graham and Jesse Sinatynski are expected to make their Kings debuts tonight after being acquired by the club yesterday.

Dauphin will also be without Mitch Van Teeling as he is in Penticton, British Columbia for the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge. Speaking of that Challenge, Canada West also has Blizzard goaltender Matt Krahn and Assistant Coach Jomar Cruz. OCN will have defenceman Dale Warkentin back in the line-up this evening as well as forward Denis Restoule. The team will be missing defenceman Dallas Drysdale and forward Brock Friesen. Blizzard play-by-play voice Jamie Smalley confirms TJ Constant is good to go and Ryan Delorme will get the start in the crease for five straight games while Matt Krahn is away.

The Blizzard lost their last four games to conclude October and enter November with a balanced schedule of six home and road games. Dauphin had just two wins in their last six October games and will play eight of twelve games this month at Credit Union Place, an arena they’ve lost their last five outings in.

Looking at the Sherwood Division, the Blizzard are three points up on the Kings for fourth entering play tonight. Neepawa continues to find ways to win as they now have eight in a row.

The Swan Valley Stampeders and Portage Terriers are tied for the Division lead with 13 wins and 28 points. Nine points separates the six clubs within the division.

SEASON SERIES

No head to head games yet this season. The KINGS won six of eight meetings last season versus the BLIZZARD (4-0 in Dauphin, 2-2 in OCN)

STREAKS

Jeremy Peeke 2 games (2A, 2PTS)
Dale Warkentin 3 games (4A, 4PTS)
Nathan Bruyere 2 games (1G, 1A, 2PTS)
Mike Collins 2 games (2A, 2PTS)
Guillaume Vallee 2 games (2A, 2PTS)

GOAL LESS SKIDS

[Keep in mind the players with a (0) beside their name do not have a goal this season]

DAUPHIN KINGS

Calvin Cairns 15 games (0)
Mathew Backhouse 14 games (0)
Derek Falloon 8 games
Jared Morris 6 games
Dayton Shaw 6 games
Quentin Holmes 6 games
Chris Daniels 5 games

OCN BLIZZARD

Curtis Brolund 17 games (0)
Carl Bombardier 17 games (0)
Rory McKie 15 games (0)
Eric Pushka 14 games
Jaron Campbell 13 games
Colin Fay 12 games
Kolton Baptiste 10 games
Mike Collins 7 games
Spencer Brennan 6 games
Denis Restoule 6 games
Dale Warkentin 6 games
Jordan Christianson 5 games
JB Voyer 5 games
Brock Friesen 3 games
TJ Constant 2 games

I’ll join Jamie Smalley on the CJ 1240 broadcast of tonight’s game. Check out his blog to find the livestream.

Our next MJHL on CKDM broadcast will be Friday as the Kings engage in a Highway Five battle with the Neepawa Natives at 7:30pm. The pre-game show with yours truly and Christian Laughland begins at 7:15pm.