Total Sports Simcoe County Edition, Winter 2016 Winter 2016 Issue | Page 4

2015 Creator’s Cup Winning,
Barrie Blizzard Looking to
Repeat in 2016
By: Shawn Gibson

Last November, the Canadian Lacrosse League
championship rings were handed out, a party was held, and
the 2015, Creator’s Cup winning, Barrie Blizzard headed
home to prepare for the upcoming 2016 season. The team,
full of “regular guys”, will look to continue the success of
last year and make Barrie a tough place to play for visitors.

MacArthur sees the 2016 season being as successful as the
previous one. With many players in CLAX not sure if they
will be called upon to join the National Lacrosse League as
of yet, it’s a waiting game for Blizzard staff to see who will
round out the defending champs. That matters not to the
bench boss as he will take the same approach as last year.

The Blizzard’s season starts January 15 at the tough home
turf of the Ohsweken Demons, the team they beat in the
2015 overtime thriller. Barrie is only two years into being a
CLAX franchise and has already hit the pinnacle of success
in the league, with an attendance that is envied by others.
Blizzard head coach, Brad MacArthur, believes the team’s
fortunes are attributed to the make-up of the team.

“Steady and defensive is a way that works,” said MacArthur.
“Playing defensively and leading the league in that category
helps take the pressure off the offense and makes for far
less mistakes.”

“These are just regular guys with regular jobs and supportive
families,” said MacArthur. “We’re fortunate to have great
management bring players in and recognize that to have
loyal fans, you need to show some loyalty to winning or
trying to win.”
Barrie went from worst to first quickly. In their debut year
in 2013, the Blizzard finished a league low 3-11. 2014 had
the team improve enough to make the playoffs, only to exit
early. Barrie rebounded, made some changes and was an
impressive 6-2 to end the 2015 regular season. A dramatic
overtime win against the Demons in Barrie gave local
lacrosse fans something to cheer about.
“Baseball and hockey get a lot of press in Barrie and rightfully
so, they’re deep-rooted here in town,” said MacArthur. “But
lacrosse has a long and great history in the city too. When
you come out and watch it live. You see the passion and
physicality at a high level, mixed with a respect that these
players all have for each other. You rarely see a cheap shot
on opposition because of that respect.”

Date
Fri Jan 15 8:00 PM
Sat Jan 23 2:00 PM
Sun Jan 24 2:00 PM
Fri Jan 29 8:00 PM
Sun Feb 7 2:00 PM
Sat Feb 13 2:00 PM
Sun Feb 14 2:00 PM
Sat Feb 20 2:00 PM
Sun Feb 28 2:00 PM
Sun Mar 6 2:00 PM

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Blizzard Captain Spencer Janes will have been with Barrie
for three years when the new season begins and feels that
the team about to hit the floor will be the best one they’ve
had yet.
“We were kind of a rarity last season,” said Janes. “The
chemistry was hard to explain as none of us had really
played together before. It was a need to learn as we go,
but somehow it got done and we ended up being very
comfortable in our roles.”
Roles on this squad are how the Blizzard succeed. While
some teams focus on a defensive or offensive style of play,
Barrie tends to use the working man’s philosophy when
playing, in that everyone contributes at all times.
“It’s all about trusting your teammates and doing what you
are there to do,” said Janes. “We all have a role to play and
as long as you take responsibility for what you are there to
do, good things happen.”
The Blizzard’s first home game is Sunday January 24 at 2pm
at the Barrie Molson Centre as they host the Demons. For
ticket information, please visit www.barrieblizzard.com.

Visitor
Barrie Blizzard
Barrie Blizzard
Ohsweken Demons
Barrie Blizzard
Southwest Cyclops
Barrie Blizzard
Durham Turfdogs
Barrie Blizzard
Niagara Lock Monsters
Durham Turfdogs

Place

Iroquois Lacrosse Arena
GM Centre
Barrie Molson Centre
Syl Apps Community Centre
Barrie Molson Centre
GM Centre
Barrie Molson Centre
Meridian Centre
Barrie Molson Centre
Barrie Molson Centre