EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – In its last pre-season game at the Jean Daigle Centre on Sunday night, the Edmundston Blizzard played with fire and ended up getting burned… Leading 3-0 entering the third period, the Blizzard saw the Campbellton Tigers register four unanswered goals to take the lead 4-5 with 3:52 left in regulation time. But the locals managed to tie the score at 18:39 of the end.
Zach Spencer put an end to the suspense by scoring the winning goal at 3:39 in overtime to give the Tigers a 5-4 win in front of a crowd of 1,272 spectators.
Spencer concluded his night with two goals. Riley Bezeau, Elliott St-Pierre and William Basque also put the puck through goalkeeper Ewan MacDonald. In the Blizzard camp, Aaron Brown, Isaac Chapman, Tristan Gagnon and Chad Wilson beat Tristan Gray.
The first star of the evening, Josh Nadeau (three assists), could have given the final blow at 12:37 of the third by inheriting a penalty shot. But his wrister just missed the target. The Blizzard were then ahead 3-2. Tristan Gagnon earned the game’s second star followed by Elliott St-Pierre (Campbellton) as the third star.
The Tigers led 30-24 in shots. Campbellton completes it three-game training camp with two wins and one loss. Edmundston accumulated seven points with three wins, two losses and one overtime setback.
This was the last exhibition game of the Maritime Hockey League. The regular season kicks off on Thursday as the new team, the Fredericton Red Wings, visit the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. The next day, the Blizzard will start its schedule in Grand Falls by facing the Rapids at 7:30 pm.
The Blizzard will begin its season at home on Sunday, September 15, at 3 pm, hosting the Campbellton Tigers. Tickets are on sale online (www.blizzardedmundston.ca) and at the Edmundston Events office.
Four of the top five scorers in exhibition games come from the Edmundston Blizzard, who has the avantage of having played more games than the other teams. Isaac Chapman (5g, 3a = 8pts), Tristan Gagnon (3g, 5a = 8pts) and Aaron Brown (3g, 3a = 6pts) are 1-2-3 in the league’s top scorers. Josh Nadeau, the 15-year-old sensation, is closed behind in fifth place with 1 goal and five assists with one game less than his teammates.
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The Blizzard coaching staff chose Tristan Gagnon as captain of the team. On Tuesday, he scored a goal and added an assist.
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, Edmundston Blizzard vice-president communications; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone