EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – With two wins in the past week, the Edmundston Blizzard retained its honorable mention in the season’s final rankings of the best junior A teams in the country. The same goes for the Summerside Western Capitals, which remain ranked second according to experts from the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The Blizzard has been on the top rankings for the past eight weeks. Seven times, Edmundston received an honorable mention and rose to 19th place in the rankings released on February 3rd.
The Edmundston team has 33 wins, 9 losses, 1 overtime defeat and 7 shootout upsets. With 74 points and two more games to go, the Blizzard could match or beat its best production of 76 points established in its champion year in 2017-2018.
Last week, the Blizzard posted home wins of 4-1 against Miramichi (Wednesday) and 4-2 versus Pictou County (Saturday). Last game was highlighted by a spectacular comeback by the Blizzard, who trailed 2-1 with two minutes left in the third period.
In its last 14 games, the Blizzard has suffered only one loss in regulation and its record shows 10-1-0-3 during this period. As for the Western Capitals, they kept cruising with a 41-6-1-2 record for 85 points.
The Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL, 49-9-0) finished the season first in the country, followed by Summerside and the Okotoks Oilers (3rd, AJHL, 47-7-4).
This week, the Blizzard will play its last two games of the regular season. Wednesday at 7 pm, Edmundston visits the Campbellton Tigers (28-16-3-2) and Friday at 7:30 pm, the Blizzard hosts the Fredericton Red Wings (26-19-4-1).
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With only two games to play by the end of the calendar, the Blizzard will soon know their opponents for the opening roung of the playoffs. Photo Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone