GRAND FALLS, New Brunswick – Led offensively by Ty Hunter’s three goals (6th, 7th and 8th), the Grand Falls Rapids doubled up the Edmundston Blizzard 4-2 on Friday night at the E. & P. Sénéchal Center to avoid a sweep in the eighth meeting this season between the two Northwestern teams.
With the score tied 2-2, the Rapids (13-28-0-3) scored two third-period goals to cruise to victory. The diminutive Marcellus Francis (7th) scored the decisive goal at 12:36. Hunter completed his hat-trick at 15:32 to seal the win in front of 953 fans.
Goalie Adam Lecours was the defensive star of the game, turning aside 42 of the Blizzard’s 44 shots. Samuel LeBlanc faced 28 shots in front of the Edmundston cage.
With a goal and an assist, Félix Bédard now totals 82 points, tying Olivier Coulombe’s mark (2022-2023) for the most points scored in a season by a Blizzard player. Bédard has 35 goals and 47 assists.
Philippe Collette, with his 26th, led the way with the only goal of the opening period.
The game’s three stars went to Hunter (1st), Francis (2nd) and Lecours (3rd).
The Blizzard (31-11-1-0) will have to put this defeat behind them quickly, while striving to be more disciplined, as their next opponent will be no pushover. On Sunday (3 p.m.), Edmundston plays host to the team of the hour in the Eastlink South division, the Truro Bearcats, who boast a stellar 8-1-1-0 record in their last ten games and are battling fiercely for second place in their division.
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Photo
Félix Bédard (9) ties Olivier Coulombe for most points (82) in a season in a Blizzard uniform. Photo archives Percy Picard.
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone