Manitoba Blizzard

Winnipeg Blizzard
Founded	2010
League	Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League
Division	RMLL East
Team history	Manitoba Blizzard (2010–2024); Winnipeg Blizzard (2024–Present)
Based in	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Arena	Maples Community Centre
General manager	Terry Williams
Championships	3 (2016, 2017, 2024)
Division titles	7 (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Winnipeg Blizzard are a Junior B box lacrosse team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blizzard compete in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.

History

Formed in 2010 as the Manitoba Gryphons, the team was the first Manitoba-based team to join the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League. After a two-year probationary period the Gryphons were granted full league membership for the 2012 season in which they finished 10-9-0, sixth best in the 10-team league. They Gryphons were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The Gryphons hosted Founders Cup 2013^[1] in Winnipeg finishing in fifth place. The team would see ownership/management changes in the off-season and were renamed the Blizzard. The club also relocated from their original home in Oakbank to Notre Dame Arena and further to Maples Community Centre.

As the lone Junior B team in the province, the Blizzard annually represent Manitoba at Founders Cup. The team has played for the Bronze medal on four occasions falling short each time.

It hosted the Founders Cup 2019 in Winnipeg.

In 2024, the team was renamed the Winnipeg Blizzard to drop the "Manitoba" name at the provinces request.

The team went on to win the 2024 Larry Bishop Memorial Trophy in Airdrie, Alberta.

Season-by-season

Manitoba Gryphons/Blizzard
Season	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	Finish	Playoffs	Founders Cup finish
2011	7	7	0	14	127	130	5th of 6 South	Not eligible	4th - Lost vs Saskatchewan SWAT
2012	10	9	0	20	170	201	4th of 6 South	Lost vs Calgary Shamrocks (2-1)	7th
2013	12	7	1	25	189	174	3rd of 6 South	Won vs Calgary Chill (2-0); Lost vs Calgary Mountaineers (2-0)	5th
2014	13	7	0	26	207	180	3rd of 6 South	DNQ	4th - Lost vs Nova Scotia
2015	14	6	0	28	209	145	2nd of 5 North	Won vs Edmonton Warriors (2-1); Round robin (2-1); Won vs Calgary Chill; Lost vs Saskatchewan SWAT League Finalists	5th
2016	15	5	0	30	235	151	3rd of 6 South	Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (2-1); Won vs Red Deer Rampage; Won vs Chill^[2]^[3] - Champion	8th
2017	18	2	0	36	247	170	1st of 6 North	Round robin (2-1); Won vs Chill; Won vs Rampage^[4]^[5] - Champion	4th - Lost vs Seneca WarChiefs
2018	18	2	0	36	246	116	1st of 3 East	Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (1-3)	4th - Lost vs Coquitlam Adanacs
2019	13	7	0	26	203	189	1st of 3 East	Won vs SWAT (2-0); Round robin (2-2)	4th - Lost vs Coquitlam Adanacs
2022	11	9	0	22	213	211	1st of 3 East	Won vs Kings (2-1); Round robin (0-4)	Did not attend
2023	13	7	0	26	239	179	2nd of 3 East	Won vs Kings (2-0); Round robin (3-1); Lost vs Warriors League Finalists	Did not attend
2024	13	6	1	27	211	153	2nd of 3 East	Won vs Kings (2-0); Round robin (3-1); Won vs Mavericks - Champion	To be played

Founders Cup

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Year	Round Robin	Record W-L-T	Standing	Semifinal	5th Place Game	Bronze Medal Game
2015 Calgary, AB	L, Akwesasne Indians 8-15 L, Seneca WarChiefs 6-19 OTW, Calgary Mountaineers 7-6 L, Coquitlam Adanacs 7-10 L, Saskatchewan SWAT 3-15 OTW, Calgary Chill 11-10	2-4-0	5th of 7		W, Saskatchewan SWAT 9-6
2016 Orangeville, ON	L, Seneca WarChiefs 8-12 L, Orangeville Northmen 3-9 OTL, Coquitlam Adanacs 9-10 L, Clarington Green Gaels 1-15	0-3-1	4th of 4 Pool B	L, Team Nova Scotia 13-6	L, Coquitlam Adanacs 9-12
2017 Saskatoon, SK	L, Red Deer Rampage 9-11 L, Orangeville Northmen 8-12 W, Saskatchewan SWAT 16-15 W, Coquitlam Adanacs 14-11 L, Red Deer Rampage 7-10	2-3-0	4th of 6			L, Seneca WarChiefs 8-15
2018 Akwesasne	W, Saskatchewan SWAT 10-6 L, Elora Mohawks 8-17 W, Mohawks Medicine Men 13-7	2-1-0	2nd of 3 Pool A	OTL, Calgary Shamrocks 8-9		L, Coquitlam Adanacs 8-9
2019 Winnipeg, MB	W, North Shore Kodiaks 16-13 W, Seneca WarChiefs 11-10 L, Calgary Shamrocks 5-13 W, Saskatchewan SWAT 11-8 L, Six Nations Rebels 3-16 L, Coquitlam Adanacs 5-11	3-3-0	4th of 7			L, Coquitlam Adanacs 4-7

References

^ "Gryphons about more than lacrosse". Winnipeg Free Press. August 20, 2013.
^ "Ritchie brothers help Blizzard capture lacrosse league championship". Thompson Citizen. August 10, 2016.
^ "Manitoba Blizzard ready to defend Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League title". Global News. April 26, 2017.
^ "Blizzard win second lacrosse championship". Winnipeg Free Press. September 11, 2017.
^ "Thompson athletes lead Manitoba Blizzard to victory yet again". Thompson Citizen. August 15, 2017.

External links

Manitoba Blizzard website

[1] "Gryphons about more than lacrosse". Winnipeg Free Press. August 20, 2013.

[2] "Ritchie brothers help Blizzard capture lacrosse league championship". Thompson Citizen. August 10, 2016.

[3] "Manitoba Blizzard ready to defend Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League title". Global News. April 26, 2017.

[4] "Blizzard win second lacrosse championship". Winnipeg Free Press. September 11, 2017.

[5] "Thompson athletes lead Manitoba Blizzard to victory yet again". Thompson Citizen. August 15, 2017.

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