Despite conceding several pounds and inches, the Edmundston Blizzard once again defeated the powerful Yarmouth Mariners, winning 5-3 Saturday in front of the largest crowd of the season at the Jean-Daigle Centre (2,230 paid attendance). The Blizzard continues to shine against the Southwestern Nova Scotia team against whom they have a record of seven wins, two losses and one overtime defeat in 10 games since the Blizzard arrived in Edmundston in 2017- 2018.
After a tight first half of the game where the Mariners seemed to impose their tempo, the faster Blizzard ended up baffling the Yarmouth players visibly a little slower the more the matchup progressed.
Tristan Fortin and Ethan Johnson had one goal and one assist each to lead the Blizzard to their sixth straight unbeaten game in regulation (5-0-1-0). Edmundston is now 7-2-1-0 and joined the Fredericton Red Wings (7-5-1-0) for third in the Eastlink North division. The Blizzard are just two points behind (with two games in hand) the Campbellton Tigers (7-2-2-1), which they face on Sunday, November 7 (7 p.m.) on the Restigouche rink.
Johnson had a great start to the season with 13 points (2g, 11a) in 10 games. Saturday night, he earned the first star of the meeting.
Jake Measel (2nd star), Tristan Therrien and Mitchell McLeod also beat goaltender Christophe Béluse. Mariners’ response came from Kieran Burke (2b) and Sam Gillis (3rd star).
Blizzard Head Coach Emery Olauson knows a great recipe is not to be changed. He sent goaltender Nicholas Sheehan into action, knowing that the Moncton native goalie gave the Blizzard a 3-2 overtime win in Yarmouth on October 23rd. On Saturday night, Sheehan once again stoud out with numerous key saves. He faced 34 shots from the Mariners. Béluse received 39 pucks.
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Photo
First star of the game, Ethan Johnson shows his joy after giving the Blizzard a 3-1 lead at 18:31 of the second period. Photo Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone