FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – It was a great night for the Edmundston Blizzard in Fredericton as they enjoyed a 4-2 win over the Red Wings and secured the Eastlink North Division championship.
What’s more, “rocket” Olivier Coulombe reached the 50 goals plateau with two goals in the game. Coulombe accomplished this feat at 16:13 of the third period to give the Blizzard a 4-2 lead. For the historic goal, number 16 fired a backhanded shot past goalie Mathias Savoie.
Coulombe became the first 50-goal scorer in the MHL since the 2014-15 season when Thomas Stavert scored 50 goals in 48 games for the Summerside Western Capitals. Coulombe reached that mark in just 35 games. The all-time MHL record belongs to Duane Saulnier who scored 70 goals in 40 games in 1988-89 with the Halifax Lions.
Patrick LeBlanc also scored twice for the Blizzard who secured first place in the Eastlink North division with its 37th win, a new Edmundston franchise record. Jérémy Duguay once again shined with three assists.
Carson Peer, with two goals, responded for the Red Wings (19-27-2-2). Coulombe (1st), LeBlanc (2nd) and Peer (3rd) were named the stars of the game.
Thomas Boucher of the Blizzard (28 saves) and Savoie of the Red Wings (40 saves) were the two goalies.
The Blizzard (37-12-0-1) also enjoyed their 13th straight win, another team record. With 75 points, Simon Olivier’s squad leads the Summerside Western Capitals (33-14-3-0) by 6 points at the top of the section. Both teams have two more games to play before the end of the regular season.
The Blizzard have two more games to play before the regular season ends. They will try to beat the team’s mark of 77 points that they reached at the end of the 2019-20 season.
On Friday, March 10, the Blizzard hosts the Grand Falls Rapids (7:30 p.m.) and on Sunday, March 12, they visit the Summerside Western Capitals (7 p.m.).
The playoffs will begin next week. The Blizzard will face Campbellton (60 points) or Miramichi (60 points) in the first round. This weekend’s games will be crucial.
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Photo
Olivier Coulombe reached the historic milestone of 50 goals on Thursday at the Grant-Harvey Centre in Fredericton. (Photo archives Percy Picard)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone