NorMan take Turnbull Cup with triple-overtime winner
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This article was published 09/05/2025 (391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It took until nearly the next day, but the NorMan Blizzard took the Manitoba Junior Hockey League championship in the most dramatic possible fashion May 1.
Quincy Supprien broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third overtime of game seven to claim the Blizzard’s first title since 2003. Supprien took advantage right after a face-off, crashing towards the dot and immediately shooting a loose puck past Cole Sheffield, setting off incredible celebrations.
“It’s amazing, unbelievable,” Supprien said in a video posted to the MJHL’s social media.
“It’s like a dream coming true.”
The Pas mayor Andre Murphy even proclaimed May 2 as Northern Manitoba Blizzard day in the town on his Facebook page.
Mike McAulay, the general manager of the Niverville Nighthawks, was one of those tuning in and was delighted with what he saw.
“What an epic thriller that was,” he said.
“I had my laptop on my nightstand on my bed, just trying to stay awake watching it… It was an awesome game. Good for the league, good for that organization.”
While NorMan were the visitors in game seven, a large contingent of fans from The Pas had made the trip down to Dauphin to watch game seven, and they were rewarded with a goal.
“It kind of started slow last year when I got to The Pas, to get the people back in the stands and to get them behind the Blizzard,” head coach and general manager Eric Labrosse said in a video.
“After seeing last year’s success, what we did in the season and in playoffs, and building on that this year, they started coming to the rink more and more.”
Taye Timmerman was brilliant in game seven, stopping 55/56 shots he faced, including a sprawling effort early in the first overtime to extend the game.
The goaltenders took turns to steal the show in the finals, with Sheffield needing to stop 69/70 of the shots he faced in games five and six just to force a game seven.
“Both goaltenders were amazing tonight and we came out on top, but it could have went both ways,” head coach and general manager Labrosse said.
“Beating Dauphin in the playoffs is not an easy task… It was a great battle.”
The goalies were named the co-most valuable player for the playoffs by the league.
The game took a turn to the scary with 3:50 to go in the first overtime. Blizzard forward Louis-Jacob Beauregard caught a rut in the ice when trying to turn around the net during a forecheck attempt. Instead of smoothly gliding back on defense, Beauregard fell headfirst into the boards at full speed, then collapsed to the ice.
Medics from both teams rushed onto the ice to treat Beauregard, stabilizing his back and neck while waiting for more medics to arrive. The 2006-born forward from Quebec was checked out at the hospital and was miraculously able to return to the arena to join his teammates in the celebration.
The Blizzard will represent the MJHL at the Centennial Cup in Calgary beginning with a game May 8, competing against other top Junior A teams from across the country.