Blizzard loses second game in two days before starting playoffs

Goalkeeper Dominik Bonenfant, 17, of Grand Falls, will long remember his first game in the Blizzard uniform. He was in front of his team’s net for the last two periods of Sunday’s game. And he performed very well. Photo Olivier Chiasson

EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Fortunately the regular season is over as it has been rare to see the Edmundston Blizzard suffer two consecutive losses this year, especially against opponents who have been eliminated from the playoffs.

After a 4-3 overtime defeat the night before in St. Stephen, the Blizzard was beaten by the same score on Sunday in Edmundston, but in regulation time against the Woodstock Slammers. Another sell-out crowd of 2 793 spectators witnessed the close game.

The Slammers took the lead 2-0 midway through the second period and maintained their lead for the remainder of the game. Near the end of the opening period, goalkeeper Francis Asselin injured one leg and insisted to remain in the game. The score was 0-0 after one period. But in the second frame, he was replaced by Dominik Bonenfant of Grand Falls, who played his very first career game in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. And he made a good impression. He allowed four goals on 23 shots. Bonenfant was called up as an affiliate player because of an injury to the Blizzard other goalie, Myles Hektor. Bonenfant was in uniform in the first game of the season on September 15 in Woodstock, but was the backup to starter Greg Moon.

Riley Bechard, Jarrod Isley, Matt MacNeil and Kyle Foreman scored for the Slammers Kyle Ward and Logan Johnston replied with one goal and one assist each. Gabriel Vanier was the other Blizzard scorer who led 34-30 in the shots column. For a second game in a row, the Blizzard faced a  hot goalie. Andrew Rose defended the Slammers cage brilliantly.

Before the game, Blizzard organization paid tribute to its five 20-year-old players who are completing their last junior season – Nolan Alward, Alexandre Bernier, Dany Coulombe, Alexandre Jacob and Kyle Ward.

The Blizzard concludes its first historic season first overall with a record of 36 wins, 10 losses and 4 overtime defeats for a total of 76 points, nine more than the Summerside Western Capitals on top of the EastLink North division and five better than the Yarmouth Mariners, the best team of the South division.

– 30 –

Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone