The Mexican national ice hockey team is one of the most successful in the sports history, having won the world championship a record five times. We have to go to where they are.". The New Mexico Mustangs joined the South Division and played at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He has not played in an NHL game this season, as he has not played in the minors. Shesterkin was the best goalie in the Kontinental Hockey League and won the Vezina Memorial Award. Marner embraced the comparison, even wearing his number 93 while playing for London. Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Bandits. 201617 season: The league announced the continued expansion of the East Division by adding the Northeast Generals of Attleboro, Massachusetts. This past season, he scored 13 goals for the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals. Although other ice hockey leagues saw integration in the early 20th century (including the Quebec Senior Hockey League), the NHL did not see its first non-white player until March 13, 1948, when Larry Kwong broke the NHL's colour barrier playing with the New York Rangers. Bob Condor /. And, in 2016, the league made history by drafting a Latino player with the No. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Pacioretty has also spent his entire career in a Habs uniform, playing in 565 games, scoring 210 goals, and handing out 202 assists. With 10 Americans, the Los Angeles Kings are tops among the NHLs clubs, followed by the New York Rangers (9) and the Chicago Blackhawks (8). The Islanders, Edmonton, the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Vancouver Canuck all featured him. In receiving that award, he also became the first Maple Leafs player to win the trophy since Leafs legend Brit Selby won it, back in 1966. The Golden Knights have Spanish-language social media channels as do the San Jose Sharks and run street clinics in Hispanic communities. Stream exclusive ESPN+ games and play Fantasy Hockey. The Eagles originally sought membership with the NAHL for the 201213 season and returned to the NOJHL for the season 201516 season. With at least 100 points, he became the 11th United States-born player in NHL history, trailing only Patrick Kane. The Motor City Metal Jackets relocate to Jamestown, New York, and become Jamestown Ironmen. For the fifth year in a row, a greater percentage of players chosen at the NHL draft come from non-traditional hockey markets. Artemi Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers in 2019. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Gomez scored 756 points (181 goals, 575. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Dario Rodriguez was able to virtually meet Isles Alumni Al Montoya! Despite the difficulties that Mexican players will face, they will eventually overcome them thanks to the assistance of their coaches and teammates. In the future, there may be even more Hispanic players in the NHL, making an impact on the sport at the highest level. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and winning rookie of the year honors for the 2016-17 season. Meruelo subsequently hired Xavier Gutierrez, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, to be the Coyote's -- and the league's -- first Latino CEO. The number of Latino players has increased across the NHL, minor leagues and colleges in recent years, including Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Al Montoya and Raffi Torres. On March 12, 2019, Pittsburgh Penguins Evgeni Malkin became the youngest player to reach the 1,000-point mark with two assists against the Washington Caps. [28][29] The Texas Tornado returned to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations. The New Jersey Devils Hockey in NJ program has strong support in Hispanic communities, as does the Philadelphia Flyers Snider Hockey program and Tampa Bays Lightning Made. The Coyotes, like other teams in the Southwest, play in markets with huge Latino populations and have developed programs to engage those communities. Cleveland Jr. Barons were granted inactive status for the season. The New York Rangers selected Montoya in the first round of the 2004 NHL draft. Mitch Marner had 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 72 games for the Toronto Maple Leaf. At the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Pan American Games, Mexican athletes have won a total of 33 medals. (Video) RANKING 5 NHL PLAYERS WITHOUT KNOWING THE NEXT (Wld4hky) In his NHL debut, Kaprizov became the first player to accomplish the feat when he scored three points, including an overtime goal. His 28 goals were the most by a NHL defensive player, and he won the Norris Memorial Award. Listen to the Spanish Language broadcaster for the Florida Panthers call a goal. Arizona has held youth ball hockey clinics with organizations in areas with large Latino populations, bringing sticks and balls that kids can take home to continue their interest in the game. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. In the 2003 NHL Draft, the Bruins selected Patrice Bergeron in the second round (No. "Obviously, we'd be traveling quite a ways and it'd be a lot for a preseason game, but I don't know, that was the first thing that came to mind when somebody brought this kind of topic up to me.". Its about what you can do on the ice.. After three seasons, he competed for Switzerland in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The team will play at the Rochester Ice Center in the metropolitan suburb of Fairport, New York. The first Latino player to be drafted was Scott Gomez in 1998. The NHL is unique because it is extremely diverse. A new East Division was formed composed of Aston, Johnstown, New Jersey, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. While lineup cards used to find players from Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Massachusetts, the NHL now welcomes players from Russia and across Europe. In the 2010-11 season, he amassed nine victories for the New York Islanders, who had a subpar season. The Minnesota Wilderness joined the league from the Superior International Junior Hockey League by purchasing dormant St. Louis Bandits franchise. NHL.com/kraken is the official web site of the Seattle Hockey Partners, LLC d/b/a Seattle Kraken, and cannot be used or reproduced without the prior written consent of Seattle Kraken. 17-23. The captain of the Canadian hockey team led the NHL in points for the second straight season in 2017-18 and 2018-19. When I took a look at how the NHL can expand into the Chinese market, one of the factors working at their disadvantage was the lack of a recognizable superstar. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The three Latino stars of the 2023 NFL Draft. What nationality is most represented in the NHL? "It's always been a lifelong dream to play in the NHL . This article is about the junior league in the United States. A few have even made it to the National Hockey League (NHL). by Several other countries, including Switzerland, Germany, and Slovakia, have also risen to prominence. He has already lived up to every ounce of the hype, playing in all 82 regular season games of his rookie season, scoring 40 goals and dishing out 29 assists. Gutierrez himself touted the possibility of bringing the NHL to Mexico sooner rather than later in a 2020 interview with ESPN. Comparatively, there are 8.9% of the Black or African American ethnicity and 7.5% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. 201213 season: The Alaska Avalanche relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became Johnstown Tomahawks. The Fresno Monsters were awarded an expansion franchise. 4 Raffi Torres Left Wing. They joined the long list of record seasons that ended with disappointment. The peewee Jr. Kings won a national championship in their division and 15 players have been invited to the teams training camp in El Segundo, California, in August. Watch: NAHL Weekend Recap, Apr. As Alex Ovechkin joins the elite 800-goal club, we break down the highlights, numbers and moments along his journey -- and what comes next. The Puerto Rican Mens National Team is looking to qualify for the 2017 World Championships after performing well at the Amerigo Latam Cup. The NHL has 17 different nationalities on its roster this season. 2009present: Pittsburgh Penguins. His high-flying offense has earned him a spot among the leagues top 20 goal-scorers. Cloud, Minnesota", "Detroit Little Caesars Statistics and History", "Topeka Pilots RoadRunners get a new name", "NAHL announces relocation of WBS Knights to Danbury, Connecticut", NAHL announces teams, alignment for 2014-15 season, "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights join NAHL in 2015-16 season", "Shreveport Mudbugs accepted into the NAHL for the 2016-17 season", "Wildcats' season ends with 4-3 overtime loss", "NAHL team in Maryland to be called the Black Bears", "Corpus Christi IceRays suspend operations", "Kansas City Scouts exercise option to sit out the 2020-21 season", "Springfield Jr. Blues suspend operations for 2020-21 season", "Jamestown Rebels suspend operations for 2020-21 season", "NAHL's Fairbanks Ice Dogs to temporarily relocate to Marshall for part of season", "Corpus Christi, Jamestown, Springfield return for 2021-22 season", "Kansas City Scouts sold and relocated to Amarillo, Texas", "NAHL team in Anchorage, Alaska approved for the 2021-22 season", "Richfield's Magicians set to move to Wisconsin after the season", "Wichita Falls Warriors announce relocation to Oklahoma City", "Rochester Jr. Amerks to play inaugural season in 2023-24", "NAHL Announces Cancelation of 2019-20 Season, Robertson Cup Playoffs Due to COVID-19", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_Hockey_League&oldid=1145054986, Chicago Patriots (Chicago, Illinois; 198687; folded midseason), Chicago Young Americans (Chicago, Illinois; 19871989), Detroit Little Caesars (Detroit, Michigan; 197576; only played in the inaugural season of the GLJHL), Fraser Flags (Fraser, Michigan; 19811984), Fraser Highlanders (Fraser, Michigan; 19761980), Lytes Rustlers (199091; Traveling team composed of west coast prospects played for one season), Melvindale Blades (Melvindale, Michigan; 198990), Melvindale Lakers (Melvindale, Michigan; 198283), Port Huron Fogcutters (Port Huron, Michigan; 197576), Soo Indians (Sault Ste. All Rights Reserved. Beside winning the Stanley Cup someday, Nieto hopes his presence in the NHL inspires young Hispanic players the same way Gomez's career inspired him. The NHL postseason has begun. He has at least 12 goals in each of his seven seasons and has at least 40 points in each. COLOR OF HOCKEY: HEON HOPING TO POWER MEXICO TO 2022 BEIJING. 201516 season: On May 1, 2015, the NAHL announced that the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise was purchased by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights organization to be an expansion team for the 201516 season. Puerto Ricans have never played in the NHL. The Edmonton Oil Kings have the most Canadians on their roster with 20 players, while the Winnipeg Jets have the most Americans with 15 players. This page is not available in other languages. Wasilla Spirit changed names to Alaska Avalanche. Todays Latino players owe a debt of gratitude to former NHL forward Scott Gomez. 20062007: St. Louis Blues A new-found embracing of winter sports, coupled with the arrival of the Winter Olympics, in the region leads to things looking good for the NHL. Cities such as Monterrey (5.3 million) and Guadalajara (5.2 million) could also be considered. Only two Mexican players are currently in the NBA, withJTA accounting for an uninspiring 1.8% of all Mexican players. The number of Latino players has increased across the NHL, minor leagues and colleges in recent years, including Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Al Montoya and Raffi Torres. Since then, hockey has progressed greatly. These players are all products of the hard work and dedication that Dominican hockey players have put into the sport. There are NHL fans who think Scott Gomez, born in Alaska from Mexican and Columbian parents, was the first player of Hispanic heritage to play in the NHL. Cloud Blizzard rebranded as the St. Here are the results of our poll of ESPN's NHL analysts. To develop their players and create a competitive environment, Mexican hockey coaches have devoted a lot of time and effort. Black players in professional American football, History of African Americans in the Canadian Football League, "Soul on Ice: A growing number of Black players are making their mark in a league that until recently has been known for its insensitivity", "Being black in the NHL: From breaking the colour barrier to the Norris trophy", "Soul on Ice: Do hockey and Hip-Hop mix? We need to have a facility that can accommodate an NHL game. Kraken training camp practice on Oct 2nd is open to the public at Kraken Community Iceplex. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. November 23, 2022 by Adam. Davis said there are currently 54 active players who are Arab, Asian, Black, Latino or Indigenous, which would make up roughly 7% of the league. The program has expanded to 150 players and, during the pandemic, ran Zoom training with the club with question-and-answer sessions for the players, parents and coaches. Lakeland running back D'Marius Rucker, who is ranked No. The Corpus Christi IceRays, Jamestown Rebels, Kansas City Scouts, and Springfield Jr. Blues went dormant for the season due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Each team has an average of nine players from outside North America, or approximately 30% of their roster. 201920 season: The NAHL approved of two expansion teams: the Maine Nordiques in Lewiston, Maine, and the New Mexico Ice Wolves in Albuquerque, New Mexico. lvaro "Al" Montoya, the first Cuban American to play in the National Hockey League, wants a more Latino NHL than the one he played in. The high court overturned the federal Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act that had barred betting on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states. First overall selection in 2016. Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career. However, according to a 2016 report, there were approximately 60 Mexican hockey players in the NHL. We had success in winning two Stanley Cups and being a very influential voice in the marketplace and we couldnt lose sight that there were opportunities for growth everywhere and we need to diversify our audience.. "If we do, people will show up. [48], 2023-24 Season: NAHL approved a new team in the East Division to be located in Rochester, New York that will be known as the "Rochester Junior Americans" ("Jr. Amerks"), a nod to Rochester's American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Rochester Americans ("Amerks"), a minor league affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Montoya is the first Hispanic player to ever be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft. Douglas brings up a story about the impact of Gomez with a current coach of the Mexican National Team: We had a chance to meet him when I was playing goal for a pee wee team from Mexico; we were playing a tournament in Anaheim and the Devils were playing the Ducks, said Andres de la Garma, now a coach in Mexicos national hockey program. 201415 season: The Port Huron Fighting Falcons were relocated to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, to become the Keystone Ice Miners, remaining in the North Division, and the Wenatchee Wild moved from the Midwest Division to the South Division.[32]. [8] The share of Canadians in the league dropped to 75% by the 1980s and is now slightly less than 50%. To identify and develop the best Mexican athletes, a national program has been created, in addition to a national hockey program. [37][38][39][40] The Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears both temporarily relocated to Minnesota and closer to the other teams in their division until mid-April 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions to Alaska. With 81 career points under his belt, Nieto is one of the more experienced players on this young Avalanche roster. Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; G/G = Goals per game; A/G = Assists per game. The Coyotes serve as the perfect case study for this, as they have both the need for fans and a huge potential market in Arizonas Hispanic population. January 1, 2023. Montoya is a product of a single mother who fled the Castro regime and arrived in . The NHL debuted its Spanish-language website just two years ago and celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month for the first time in 2020. Fast forward to the present day and hockeys global presence has increased tenfold. Wenatchee, Washington, was awarded an expansion franchise for the 200809 season as the Wenatchee Wild. Perez is paving his own path for others to follow, volunteering with the Devils community outreach program and interacting with Hispanic and Latino fans during his college playing days. The third Punjabi player to play in the NHL, following Robin Bawa and Manny Malhotra, is Khaira Khaira. Marquette Rangers were added to the league. Now, the league is poised to make its next ambitious leap: Mexico. As the first American-born player to reach 60 goals in a season in the NHL, he accomplished the feat. 29 teams, 500 players participate in Latin American/Caribbean hockey tournament. Max Pacioretty is the only Mexican-American to play in these games. Operating across the Maritime provinces of Canada, the league operated for several decades until 1930. Guerin made four NHL All-Star teams and played for Team USA in the Olympics three times. According to a USA Today report, the NHL has 97 percent white players, while the other 3% is made up of different ethnicities. I didn't see anyone like me growing up.". The 20-year-old Matthewswho is Mexican on his mothers side, and speaks fluent Spanishwas the aforementioned history-making first overall draft pick, selected by Toronto in the 2016 draft. The highest-ranked player in the 247Sports state rankings is Lake Wales wide receiver/defensive back Carlos Mitchell at No. Playing with the Boston Bruins, he was also the first NHL player of African-descent. We finally have the right person in place to connect with the Hispanic community and build a genuine relationship. All rights reserved. Calder Trophy winner in 2017. The game was always accepting, said Gomez, an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. For the sake of argument, Ill include Mexico in the description of Latin America. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season. This season, the 36-year-old has one goal and eight assists in 34 games. The Coloured Hockey League was an all-black ice hockey league established in 1895. The Kenai River Brown Bears started play in the league. The Boston Bruins are the NHLs top team with a total of 20 Americans, followed by the Montreal Canadians with 12 Americans, and the Los Angeles Kings with 10 Americans. Raphael Diaz, a Swiss-born Montreal Habs defenseman, was born in Switzerland. Players without local family live with billet families in their area and pay a monthly stipend that covers food and other costs. The Marquette Rangers moved to Flint, Michigan, and changed their name to Michigan Warriors. Who will win each matchup, and in how many games? 20012002: Boston Bruins Unlike the Tier I United States Hockey League, there are no roster restrictions in the NAHL on overage players, which allows for the older players to gain extra NCAA exposure as well as teams to retain a veteran core. He played in the NHL for over 15 years, and he is currently a television analyst for the NHL Network. The NHLs first-ever Cuban-American player, and Paciorettys teammate, has one of the most important and most underrated jobs in the game: backup goalie. Mexican athletes have also won 553 medals at the national level in this category. Hockey Player Statistics By Race The most common ethnicity among hockey players is White, which makes up 72.8% of all hockey players. Since its establishment in 1998, NHL Hispanic Heritage Month has celebrated the contributions of Hispanic and Latino players, coaches, and fans to the game of hockey. NHL; MLB; Soccer; MMA . The past two years, the Florida Panthers have hosted the Amerigol Cup at their practice facility. The trophy is awarded annually to the USA Hockey Tier II junior national playoff champion. His Irish-American father found it equally important for the Guerin kids to visit their mom's homeland. Steven Stamkos, the 2008 NHL Drafts first overall pick, was chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning. With him on the team, the Leafs made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2013. On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree became the first Black Canadian to play in the NHL. You think of Arizona, I absolutely have to go after the Latino community because they are the consumer base and they are continuing to grow, and they are the labor force and the business ownership, Gutierrez said. A large-scale arena dedicated to hockey does not currently exist in Mexico. [49][50] The NAHL added another team to the East Division later in 2022-23 season, as the New Hampshire Mountain Kings were approved for their membership, making it the first time an NAHL team was located in New Hampshire. Check out this list to find out who are the best Latino hockey players. Fans are invited to stop by the Kraken Community Iceplex Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to check out exhibits informing all of us about NHL figures from the Latinx and Hispanic community. "This is a sport that's about passion . How to watch October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the NHL has been promoting the event and how it pertains to hockey. #TorontoMapleLeafs Maximiliano Bretos (@mbretosESPN) October 13, 2016 The Topeka RoadRunners were sold and rebranded as the Topeka Pilots.[20]. after having a team in the Tier III Junior A Western States Hockey League. How Many Mexican Hockey Players Are There? Brad Marchand had 34 goals and 85 points in 68 games for the Boston Bruins during the 2017-18 season. PAUL, Minn. -- Kirill Kaprizov will return for the Minnesota Wild against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday (8 p.m ET; BSN, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW) after missing 13 games with a. More recently, the Stars hired retired goalie Al Montoya, the first Cuban American player in the NHL, as their director of community outreach with the specific goal of engaging potential Latino fans. Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina trophy as the NHLs best goalie in 2018-19. Anthony Sanchez from Southwest Detroit took part in our Street Hockey in the D at home program over the Summer. He hails from Cologne, Germany. Dicky Haiek and his entire family have helped Argentinian hockey grow, from inline clinics to success at the LATAM Cup. Ice Hockey Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. With the renewed support and gate receipts, they might finally be able to move forward on the new arena they always wish they had when Gila River Arena continuously threatens them with eviction. What are the demographics of hockey? Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Kraken win 1st playoff series, oust champion Avs, Bergeron undecided on future after B's stunner, Panthers in awe after ousting 'unbelievable' Bruins, 'Resilient' Oilers shake off bad break, oust Kings, 'Penalties hurt,' as Devils let chance to clinch slip, Leafs win in OT, take 1st playoff series since 2004, Stars finish off Wild for spot in West semifinals, Wyshynski's picks for every series in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Keys to the offseason for NHL teams, including free agency plans, How to improve officiating in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Biggest celebrity fans for all 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams, Ranking the top 50 players in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 201112 season: The Owatonna Express relocate to Odessa, Texas, and become Odessa Jackalopes. Several players have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup; some even competed in the Winter Olympics. Before the sport actively expands across borders, the NHL and its member clubs should make efforts to get the Hispanic-American population in their neighborhood and marketplaces actively involved as hockey fans. Minnesota Blizzard became the Alexandria Blizzard. "Papel picados" translates in English to "punched" or "perforated paper." Granted, he may have come from the snow-filled landscape of Alaska, but he shares a common heritage with the Latin people. See Also List of Ice Hockey Players of Asian Descent List of ice hockey players of black African descent List of ice hockey players of Semitic descent Categories In 2004, Alex Ovechkin was the first player selected in the NHL draft. The NHL on NBC is an American presentation of National Hockey League (NHL) games produced by NBC Sports, and televised on NBC properties, including MSNBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, USA Network and NBCSN in the United States.. MONTOYA HELPING STARS CONNECT WITH HISPANIC COMMUNITY. Landeskog was named the youngest captain in NHL history on January 6, 2015, at the age of 19 years and 286 days. Enter Matthews, last season's top goal scorer whom the NHL can boast as one of its biggest stars regardless of heritage -- his mother, Ema, hails from the Mexican state of Sonora. Songs arrival brings huge promise, as the NHL is trying to increase its foothold in not only China, but the entire Asian market. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, where it is the national winter sport. Nikita Kucherov, who was born in Russia, scored a record-breaking 29 points in the season. Guy Lafleur Gave Me a Lifetime of Memories, NHLs History of Game 7 Overtime Series-Clinching Goals, Florida Panthers and the History of the Rats, Chicago Blackhawks 2022-23 Player Grades: Newcomers/Call-Ups. Just a few weeks prior, cornerback Michael Davis of the Los Angeles Chargers proudly told ESPN of spending childhood summers south of the border with his mother, Mexico City native Ana Martinez, in the lead-up to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. NHL eyes Mexico as next area in expanding Latino fan base, Keys to the offseason: Free agency, draft plans for Bruins, Avs, other eliminated teams, How regular-season Goliaths have fared in the postseason, Kraken win 1st playoff series, oust champion Avs, Bergeron undecided on future after B's stunner, Panthers in awe after ousting 'unbelievable' Bruins, 'Resilient' Oilers shake off bad break, oust Kings, 'Penalties hurt,' as Devils let chance to clinch slip, Leafs win in OT, take 1st playoff series since 2004, Stars finish off Wild for spot in West semifinals, 'Yeah!,' Ron Burgundy, rookie LeBron: The world when the Leafs last won a series, How one draft set up the Stars for now and the future, Kraken beat Avs 2-1, eliminate defending Stanley Cup champs, Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, scores, highlights, Panthers oust record-setting Bruins 4-3 in OT in Game 7, Who wins Avalanche-Kraken? While the NHL does not keep official statistics on the racial makeup of team rosters, that is a significant increase over when Carter played. Perhaps Arizona becoming a hotbed of Hispanic hockey will help the reverse the franchises well documented attendance woes. In the Amerigo Latam Cup, Puerto Ricos Mens National Team finished second in their division. All Rights Reserved. While the tournament no longer exists, teams that won metals in competition, such as the Brazilian National Team, have since continued growth in their ice hockey programs. Alexandria Blizzard relocated to Brookings, South Dakota, and became the Brookings Blizzard.