SUMMERSIDE, Prince Edward Island – The Edmundston Blizzard’s streak of 13 consecutive games with at least one point came to an end Saturday night at Credit Union Place when they lost 5-3 to the Summerside Western Capitals.
After conceding the first two goals to the hosts, the Blizzard were never able to catch up, coming within a goal of them on three occasions.
Ryder Howatt (1g, 2a), Paul Hughes (1st star, 1g, 1a), Connor Keough (1g, 1a), Jonah MacDonald and Trentyn Crane scored on goaltender Nicholas Sheehan, who faced 21 of 22 shots from the Capitals, who collected their final goal in an empty cage late in the third period.
The line of Jérémy Fortin – Félix Bédard – Philippe Collette once again stood out, participating in all the Blizzard goals. Fortin (2nd star, 2g), Félix Bédard (1g, 2a) and Philippe Collette (3a) led the Blizzard attack (22-9-1-0). Bédard and Carter McCluskey are now tied at the top of the MHL scoring race. Both have a total of 60 points. Bédard (26g, 34a) played his 32nd game against McCluskey’s 31 (29g, 31a).
Western Capitals (24-3-3-3) goaltender Adam Rouleau (3rd star) was tested 33 times and was excellent in the third period when he faced a barrage of 19 shots.
Summerside built up leads of 1-0 and 3-1 after the first two periods.
The Blizzard will have less than 24 hours to bounce back from this defeat and face one of the toughest opponents in the MHL right now, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers (17-12-0-0), who easily defeated the reigning series champions, the Yarmouth Mariners, 6-2 on Saturday night. The Blizzard-Weeks Crushers game will be presented Sunday evening at 7 p.m. in Pictou County.
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Photo
Jérémy Fortin scored his 18th and 19th goals of the campaign on Saturday night. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone