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S45 Edmonton Blizzard - The Dream Team (2x Media)
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(This post was last modified: 05-15-2020, 05:25 PM by karlssens.)

THE S45 EDMONTON BLIZZARD

REPLAY

Okay so perhaps "Dream Team" is a bit much, but it's hard to ignore just how well everything came together in season 45 for the Edmonton Blizzard. Fresh off a dominant regular season in S44 that saw the Albertan capital go 35-11-4, securing 74 points and the President's Trophy, they were dispatched in 6 games by the Winnipeg Jets in the conference finals who would go on to eliminate the Platoon in the finals and raise the Challenge Cup. It was an early exit for what many predicted as the favourite to win it all in S44. The start of S45 rolled around and the president trophy winning team didn't lose a single player in the off-season. Rather, they bolstered their already impressive roster by adding Joe Kurczewski. It was widely acknowledged the playoff monster would go to the New Orleans Specters in S46 following the expansion draft, but Edmonton needed some help to get them over that playoff hump and were willing to pay the price for one year of Joe.

Things started off as expected in S45. 7-3 in their first 10 games they were once again competing for top spot in the regular season. They would then go on to rattle off a beautiful 10 game win streak to create a significant divide in the standings. After just 1 loss to end the streak, they'd go on a 3 game win streak, and then 5, and then 7, and then 6. Each of which was sandwiched between 2 losses at most. Following a 5-3 win against the Seattle Riot to end the regular season, they had accumulated an insane 41-6-3 record for 85 points. 18 points clear of the next best record of 32-15-3 (67 points) collected by the Texas Renegades, the Blizzard had just achieved the single best regular season record of all time.

Regular season success is great, and the Blizzard were no stranger to it, but playoff success is much sweeter and something that had eluded the Blizzard for some time. Entering the season 45 playoffs the Blizzard had only won 2 playoff series under the Scholz administration. Once in S42 and again last season in S44. Pretty sad considering this was the 7th time they qualified for the post season with Scholz at the helm and they fielded some strong teams. Many people, including the Blizzard themselves, we curious if this would be another quick exit to a stellar regular season, or if "this was the year". In the first round they'd match up with the Los Angeles Panthers. After a dominating 6-1 win in game 1, the rest of the series was quite close. The better team won though as the top seeded Blizzard would sweep the Panthers in round 1. In the second round the Blizzard would meet the Renegades. As previously highlighted the Renegades finished second overall in the league in the regular season and had just swept they're first round opponent as well, the Jets. The Blizzard were low key happy to find themselves against the higher of two seeds. They had tremendously awful luck against the Jets who bumped them for the playoffs the last three times they qualified. All in game 7 no less. So at the very least they couldn't lose to the Jets. Game one went to Texas with a 5-3 victory. Edmonton would respond in game 2 with a tight 3-2 win. Texas would regain that lead in game 3 with a commanding 4-0 shutout. They were only shutout once all season and coincidentally that was by Texas as well. In Texas for a critical game 4 Edmonton would tie the series once again with a convincing 4-1 win. Back in Edmonton the Blizzard bucked the trend, winning a hard fought game in overtime to gain their first lead in the series. Not to be outdone, Texas would tie it in game 6 forcing a winner takes all game 7. The Blizzard, no stranger to game 7, in fact in this exact spot just one season ago, needed to dig deep. Would this be yet another disappointing end or their first birth in the finals since S31? It took overtime, but Teddy "Clutch" Cuddles came up with a huge goal to lift Edmonton in to round 3.

Unknown territory for a lot of names on the roster, the Blizzard prepared for a best of 7 with the eastern champions, the West Kendall Platoon. Unlike Edmonton, the Platoon were quite familiar with the situation having won it all in S41 and again in S43. In games 1 and 2 it wouldn't matter though as Edmonton jumped out to an early 2-0 series lead. In preparation for game 3 Blizzard fans began preparing their championship celebrations. Then experience reared it's ugly head. The Platoon clapped back with a pair of their own wins to force a best of 3 heading back to Edmonton. Eager to answer back in a critical game 5, the Blizzard fell flat and were handed a gruesome 5-1 loss. Game 6 started and many prepared for what was likely the 3rd championship for the Platoon in just 5 seasons. Once again this one came down to overtime, and no other than Mr. Playoffs himself, Joe K slid home the game winner to force a final game 7. Back to Edmonton, the Blizzard were reinvigorated and looking to cap of the season on top. This one didn't need overtime. Edmonton would secure the victory with a final score of 5-3. Crowning themselves as champions and tying the bow on an incredible season.


ROSTER

Cory Knouse - Oh captain my captain. Knouse joined the team at the tail end of the rebuild as a centrepiece for the new Blizzard. Now retired, he amassed 497 points in 600 games for Edmonton. While there is no guarantee he'll join the SHL hall of fame there is zero doubt he's one of the greatest to play for the Edmonton Blizzard.

Teodors Cukurs - The first alternate captain, Cukurs joined Edmonton way back in S36 at the beginning of the rebuild. Announcing his retirement at the beginning of S45, this was his last chance to add a cup to his resume so needless to say this was a very fitting end for him. 10 seasons with Edmonton he managed to rack up a 384 points.

Teddy Cuddles - The second alternate captain, Cuddles has become one of the names most synonymous with the Edmonton Blizzard. Though drafted by Calgary, he played every single game with Edmonton collecting 562 points in 700 games and eagerly awaits his name being called for the hall. He'd cap off the year with an Razov award for playoff MVP.

Nikolaus Scholz - Resident dinosaur, Nik was the only member of the S45 Blizzard to also win their previous Challenge cup way back in S28. Coincidentally enough that win came on his first season with the Blizzard, and this one came on his last one. Like Cukurs, Scholz announced his retirement at the beginning of the season so it was a treat to go out on top. Collecting 702 points over 900 games with Edmonton, he was inducted in to the SHL hall of fame with the class of S50.

Oisin Fletcher - Acquired in a blockbuster trade at the beginning of S44, Fletcher was a raging success in Edmonton. Amassing 99 points in 100 games during his two seasons in blue, he would be scooped up by New Orleans in the expansion draft where he'd go on to become their first captain. Now retired, he's knocking on the hall of fame and certainly has the resume to make the cut.

Joe Kurczewski - The previously mentioned Mr. Playoffs, Joe was acquired at the beginning of the year to help put them over the top and he delivered. In his one season with Edmonton he led the team in scoring with 59 points and an incredible +40 rating, tied for 3rd all time single season record. Still chugging along with New Orleans, he still has a few good seasons in him.

Hercules Rockefeller - Acquired way back in S37, Rockefeller has played every game of his career with Edmonton and is still playing to this day. With 572 points thus far he sits 3rd all time in franchise scoring behind only Kane and Scholz. His 42 points in S45 were par for the course, but his +42 rating is the all time record for a single season in the league.

DeMaricus Smyth - Acquired at the same time as Fletcher, albeit in a separate trade, Smyth could best be described as the over qualified grinder. A playmaker by trade he was stuck in the depth chart behind Fletcher and Kurczewski and while he could probably get line 1 minutes on any other team, he played line 3 for Edmonton collecting 59 points over 100 games. He now plays for New Orleans, leads them in most offensive statistics and has won several individual awards.

Tony Pepperoni - Another big name in the current SHL, Pepperoni was just a young rookie back in S45 soaking up some line 4 time and valuable experience. This was his first taste of playoff hockey and as we'd soon find out not his last. 9 seasons later he's played 450 games, scored an insane 409 points and shows no sign of slowing down soon.

Willy Mack - Another rookie, Mack joined the Blizzard in the playoffs after his junior team was eliminated. Selected in the first round by Edmonton at the beginning of the season, Mack would go on to play 200 games with Edmonton and collect 115 points.

Barbie Tanner - The third member of the Tanner trio, she's often forgotten. After a nasty injury following the S37 draft, she never was able to meet her true potential. A wonderful documentary was made about her rise back to the SHL a few years back and can be found on Netflix.

Logan Crosby - Sidney Crosby's lesser known cousin, he's not known for the hockey ability.

Evan Cordes - Who?

Piotr Czerkawski - Acquired in the same trade as Fletcher, Czerkawski joined an incredibly deep roster. After trying a few different scenarios he found himself on line 1 with Fletcher and Cuddles and while he did struggle at times to find the scoreboard he played his role well. Following the S45 season he'd spend a few seasons in New Orleans before eventually joining his current team the San Francisco Pride. Much like Smyth the uptick in minutes led to some big seasons for Piotr, putting his name in the discussion for several individual awards as of late.

Tor Tuck - Acquired in the S37 draft, Tuck has quietly become the best defender to ever play for Edmonton. Over 800 games, he's collected an insane 537 points, the most by a defenseman all time, and is still rolling. Earning several seasonal awards he's a shoe in for the hall of fame when he retires.

Brady McIntyre - Okay if Tuck is #1, this guy is #2 and is knocking on the #1 spot. With 432 points in 600 games he's second in all time defenseman points for the Blizzard and will likely surpass Tuck, depending on when the two decide to hang them up. Acquired in the S39 draft, he has become a household name in Edmonton.

Connor Tanner - Joining the league at the same time as Tuck and Rockefeller, Tanner was drafted by Hamilton in the S37 draft before being acquired by Edmonton via trade. Now retired, Tanner was the Robin to Tuck's batman and quietly amassed 324 points in just 459 games.

Ensio Kalju - Acquired at the beginning of S44 from the Seattle Riot, Kalju was a 1 for 1 replacement for the player going the other way, Cormier-Hale. The bulking blue line bruiser completed what would arguably become the best top 4 in the league for several seasons. Currently with New England, Kalju played 227 games with Edmonton collecting 118 points.

Chippy Chiclets - Drafted back in S36, Chippy was the perfect third pairing option behind the beastly four defenseman above. Jumping to New England in free agency during his final season, he played 500 games with Edmonton collecting a convincing total of 243 points.

Viktor Valentine - The quiet leader of the group, he was the glue that held the blue line together. This man never received enough credit.

Tommy Tuck - Acquired at the trade deadline in S43, he played some of his worst hockey of his career. How did he respond? Let's just say since that lacklustre season I would argue Tommy has been the best goalie of the last decade. Retiring at the end of S53, Tuck amassed an insane 244-127 record with Edmonton including multiple McBrides, a Razov and a Mexico (and a second nomination for good measure). In fact he won the McBride that season and secured 1st team all star.

Mark Stewart - He's no Patrick Diehl.


AWARDS
Challenge Cup
Cole Reinhart
Lance Uppercut Trophy
Joe McKeil Trophy
Anton Razov Trophy - Teddy Cuddles
John McBride Trophy - Tommy Tuck


ALL-STARS
1st Team: Tommy Tuck
2nd Team: Cory Knouse, Tor Tuck
3rd Team: Joe Kurczewski, Brady McIntyre

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Thanks for the sig ragnar!
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What a season. One of the best times i've had on the site.

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@karlssens put the correct backup in pls

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