EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – A four-goal surge in the third period paved the way for the Edmundston Blizzard’s 5-2 victory over the Grand Falls Rapids on Saturday evening at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
After setting the pace for the first 40 minutes of play, the young Rapids saw the Blizzard turn the tables in the third frame.
The game’s first star, Ryan Small, took charge. First, he helped Ryan Loveless score the equalizer at 2:55, then he scored the winner at 10:25 of the third period. For Loveless, it was his third goal in two exhibition games.
Ty Owen Bérubé (1g, 1a), Nicolas Dubé and Darien Thomson scored the other Blizzard goals. Defenseman Aiden McCullough earned the game’s third star with two helpers.
The Rapids’ reply came from Zackarie Michaud (second star), who scored both his team’s goals against Blizzard starting goaltender Will Hodgson. Olivier St-Onge defended the home goal brilliantly in the final 30 minutes, blocking all 16 shots he faced. St-Onge was credited with the victory. In all, the Blizzard goalkeepers faced 31 shots.
In the opposing camp, Loïc Nadeau and Clay Ryan received 26 shots.
Blizzard training camp will break on Sunday, and the players who remain with the team will prepare for the third exhibition game, to be played in Grand Falls on Wednesday at 7pm. The team’s final pre-season game will take place on Friday, September 8 (7:30 p.m.) against the Campbellton Tigers at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
First star of the game on Saturday, Ryan Small tallied one goal and one assist. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone