36 games into their Manitoba Junior Hockey League season the OCN Blizzard (12-21-3-0) are not yet where they hope to be. The team find themselves in tenth place with 27 points, seven points back of the eighth and final playoff spot.

The new calendar month will see the Blizzard on the ice in January 11 times, six of those games at Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre. Head coach Chris Perchaluk, who took command of the Blizzard bench in late November, is optimistic on the prospect of making the playoffs.

“We feel with how close we are our fate is in our own hands because we have games in hand and play all the teams within reach multiple times,” said Perchaluk.

Recent roster additions have bolstered the team, including forward Jaxson Blight. Acquired from the Yorkton Terriers in early December, Blight has two goals and three assists in six games played in a Blizzard jersey. The 19-year old Oakville native embraced the opportunity, surpassing his early season totals of four points in 24 games with the Terriers.

“We are pretty confident with how we played in our last five games so we are hoping to continue to build off that and keep moving forward in the new year.”