After a season that saw the Blizzard go 4-4 and narrowly lose out in the playoffs by one goal to the eventual Creators Cup Champion, Niagara Lock Monsters, things seem to be trending in the upward position for the Blizzard. While Barrie struggled offensively last season and in goal, the Blizzard where still able to win games, based on the solid overall depth of the team. With five of their top seven offensive threats from last season as good as gone, and goaltending still a glairing weakness, the Blizzard had an impressive draft filling many of those needs. The Blizzard where also able to address some of those glairing offensive needs through trades, acquiring high scoring offensive threat Shane Scott from the Southwest Cyclops in exchange for Martin Whittaker and the 15th overall pick in the recently concluded CLAX draft. Not only did the Blizzard acquire Scott, but they also acquired Brad Levick and Russell Poulton from the Durham Turfdogs in exchange for Nate Andres and Geoff McNulty. Levick’s powerful and accurate outside shot will undoubtedly help the teams offensive and more specifically the teams power play. Poulton excels at both ends of the floor, as he is a tenacious checker, who has an active stick and is excellent on lose balls. He also has an uncanny ability to find the back of the net in transition.
The Blizzard picked 3rd overall in last Saturday’s draft, and they immediately looked to fill glaring offensive void left by Caleb Wiles, Jonas Derks, Geoff McNulty, Martin Whittaker and Wenster Green. The Blizzard selected Connor Latimer out of the Oakville Titans Sr. B organization. The big left handed offensive threat has torn up the Ontario Sr. B loop the past two seasons, after a very successful Jr. B career with the Clarington Green Gaels. In the past two seasons with the Oakville Titans Latimer has racked up 28 goals & 46 assists for 74 points in just 22 games. Look for him to replace the offense lost by Caleb Wiles departure to the Vancouver Stealth of the NLL. The Blizzard then added another offensive player in the 3rd round selecting the big body of Cam Monroe, Monroe who also suited up for the Titans the past few seasons, put up impressive numbers this year with 11 goals & 19 assists for 30 points in 10 games. Adding Mike Mawdsley in the 7th round was an impressive pick for me, Mawdsley’s style of game will suite the CLAX rules very well. He’s a player who can excel at both ends of the floor, and doesn’t mind being a secondary option on offense. His 111 points in 91 games of Jr. A lacrosse show an ability to be an offensive threat, and his size and athleticism make him equally as effective at the defensive end of the floor. Zach Kozlowski was also a quite but nice addition to Barrie’s offensive depth, while he may be undersized he has shown a knack for being able to put the ball in the back of the net.
Defensively the Blizzard where dealt a huge blow when stud defender Colin Boucher signed with the Colorado Mammoth. He looks destined to be an NLL regular this season after back to back impressive seasons with the Mann Cup Champion Six Nations Chiefs. Wenster Green has also signed an NLL contract and its 50/50 if he returns at this point, if he does not that is another significant blow the Blizzard defensive unit. Although with that being said, the Blizzard did do a good job of adding talent that should suite up with them this season through the draft. Adding Jayson Crawford with the 7th pick of the draft was a great addition as he was a 4th round pick of the New England Black Wolves in the past NLL draft. He has room to grow before he becomes an NLL regular, but with that being said he’s highly skilled and will make an immediate impact. Daryl Robertson was the next defender the Blizzard where able to snag in the draft. Robertson was also an NLL pick, the Toronto Rock selected him in the 6th round, 52nd overall. Robertson has some big game experience winning a Minto Cup with the Whitby Warriors in 2013. Robertson has shown an ability to get up and down the floor very well, while still being effective in the defensive zone. Look for his transition game and ability to score in transition to really help the Blizzard this season. Snagging Brooklin Redmen defender and New England Black Wolves draft pick Sheldon Burns with the 35th pick of the draft was an impressive one. Burns has all the skill to crack an NLL roster, however the Black Wolves are seemingly fairly deep on the back end going into this season. Burns may find himself relegated to the practice roster, or being cut based purely on the fact the team has so many quality defenders. In any case the Blizzard will greatly benefit from his presence. A player with great speed and anticipation skills, Burns may lack offensive flair but he will undoubtedly help the Blizzard backend and transition game. Towering Clarington Green Gaels defender Alex Brennan was also selected by the Blizzard, a largely unknown defender due to him playing in the Junior B loop, Brennan will crack the Blizzard roster and make an immediate impact at the defensive end. He may struggle early on having to playing the offensive side of the ball, but if he can make large enough contributions to the back end he will be in the lineup on a nightly bases.
The Blizzard didn’t exactly address their goaltending needs, they did select Alexis Buque out of the New Westminster Salmonbellies WLA organization. However Buque is expected to crack the Colorado Mammoth roster out of training camp, with that being said, there is a small chance he may be relegated to the practice roster, thus eligible to play for the Blizzard. If he does end up with the Blizzard, Buque is a game changing talent in net, with the ability to win games on his own. With two Minto Cup Rings, Buque is a proven winner, he could immediately put Barrie in the conversation as potential league champions.
