<div align="center">EDMONTON, AB -- Edmonton Blizzard fans are awaiting the SHL’s return from the Victoria Day weekend as games one and two have already sold out, which would be the Edmonton Blizzard’s first home playoff game since last season's game six when they pushed their Conference Finals series to seven games. The atmosphere has shifted in Edmonton as we have now saw the team become a playoff team after their short retool through season 20 and 21. The energetic fans we once saw back in the “glory days” are returning to their form as the Blizzard have themselves making the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. Edmonton fans are counting down the few days left before playoff hockey. Last season we saw Edmonton playing playoff hockey earlier than usual as they were battling for the fourth seed for the last 12 games or so of the season. The team would only book their ticket to the first round in the last three games when they clinched their spot with two games left in the season. They then went on to play the first seed, Winnipeg Jets in the first round, the Jets would fall in five games to the Edmonton Blizzard, which surprised many around the league. Next, were the Los Angeles Panthers – the second seeded team. Not many were going to take the Edmonton Blizzard lightly in this matchup seeing what they had done last series. However, the favourite were the Panthers heading in. Los Angeles quickly took a two games series lead and many had thought that Edmonton would be packing their bags quite soon. Nonetheless, the Blizzard fought back and brought the series to a game seven where they lost 2-1.



Finally, their character last season were the underdogs, but now, what character does the team hold? They’re not the favourites because the league's filled with so much parity that the top three spots were separated by only two points in both conferences, so there isn't a clear favourite. With the same core as last season you can rely on this Edmonton team to have heart, so their character could be “never say die,” which fits this team perfectly. Heading into the playoffs every team has one goal – the Challenge Cup, so if you don’t reach that goal then this season is a failure. There aren’t any excuses and if you’re not the champions at the end of the season then you’re not satisfied – it’s simple. There isn’t room for second place. Therefore, you’ve got to imagine the pressure that comes with being an Edmonton Blizzard as soon as you don that jersey you know you’re playing for a team that’s won six cups, has a storied franchise, and a tough, but loving crowd. Those who have played for the team say they cannot describe the feeling, but you know you’re playing for champions. That’s the same feeling that players this season are feeling because coming off a Conference Finals loss, the fans in Edmonton are hungry for improvement. They aren’t looking for a Challenge Cup Finals finish. They’re looking for a Challenge Cup.

Edmonton’s had a successful regular season finishing second in the Western Conference and the League with 64 points tied with the first place team, Los Angeles Panthers, but loss the first seed due to the ROW tiebreaker. The team’s has had numerous players find their form this season such as highly touted wingers, Theo Kane and Mark Longford. Another player who’s long awaited his breakout season is first line winger, Emils Vilmenietis who finished the season with 19 goals – a career high, 49 points – a career high and tied for ninth overall in league scoring, a plus two, 105 hits, and 16 shots blocked excelling offensively and defensively. Yousuf Scherbluk returned to his elite status as he found himself centering the first line scoring 19 goals and 53 points, which was tied for second in league scoring. Jakub Aittokallio had an average season despite having a high wins total, his save percentage and goals against average weren’t elite level, but it seems as if the offense and defense throughout the season made up for it. Although, Aittokallio’s found himself playing his best hockey during the playoffs, but he’s never played against the Texas Renegades during the post-season, so the series could go either way.

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Chezno curse imho