LUNENBURG, Nova Scotia – A successful first day for young affiliate goaltender Will Hodgson of Fredericton. Blizzard’s 17-year-old pick in the 2021 Midget Draft was solid throughout the game and he was a big contributor to Edmundston’s 6-1 win over the South Shore Lumberjacks.
On offense, Jérémy Duguay (1st star) stood out with a goal and two assists. The Tracadie forward now totals 51 points (16-35) tied for Blizzard’s point getters with Alex Arsenault (20-31) and Olivier Coulombe (32-19). The latter increased his series of games with at least one point to 24 by collecting an assist.
Defenseman Jesse Chamberlain had his best offensive game since playing for the Blizzard. The big and strong rearguard from Bathurst collected three assists.
Mitchell McLeod (2nd star), Patrick LeBlanc, Evan Gass, Noah Matulu and Tristan Fortin also shook the ropes behind goaltender William Forbes who faced 42 shots.
Hodgson stopped 24 of 25 pucks against him. Only Bennett Kuhnlein managed to beat him at the very beginning of the middle period. Hodgson is having a great season with the Fredericton Caps, New Brunswick and PEI Midget AAA League. His 2.44 goals-against-average and .923 save percentage rank him second in the Midget league.
It’s a bit of a weekend of contrasts for the Blizzard (25-12-0-1) on Nova Scotian soil. South Shore (9-28-1-1) is the worst team in the league standings while Saturday (7 p.m.), they will face the Yarmouth Mariners (29-7-1-0), first overall in the league. Edmundston will look to end Yarmouth’s 12-game winning streak. Interestingly, the Blizzard have won their last three games in Yarmouth.
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Photo
Will Hodgson, during training camp last September. He was very effective in his first MHL game on Friday night. (Photo archives Percy Picard)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone