EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Veteran Olivier Coulombe scored the winning goal just 23 seconds from the start of the overtime period, allowing the Edmundston Blizzard to beat the Campbellton Tigers 4-3 at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
The undisputed first star of the game, Coulombe ended his evening with the last two goals for the Blizzard, bringing his total to 11 goals in just 7 games this season.
The Tigers (11-5-1-1) had received a minor penalty late in the third period and still had to defend shorthanded (4 on 3) to start overtime. Coulombe took advantage of perfect passes from Alex Arsenault and Jérémie Thibodeau to beat goaltender Xavier Farrah (3rd star) with a sharp wrist shot between the pads.
Colby Morin (2nd) and Tristan Fortin (11th, 2nd star) scored the first two goals for the Blizzard in the opening period. The Tigers saw Émile Tremblay (1st), Connor Richard (9th) and Peter Stanger (6th) scored in turn against Thomas Boucher who won a fifth game in a row in as many starts in front of the Blizzard net.
Edmundston (11-10-0-1) led 41-32 in the shots column.
Neither team managed to score two consecutive goals. The Blizzard got the ball rolling early in the game with Morin’s goal and both teams took turns scoring.
Grand premiere
For the first time in the history of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, two female referees were on duty. Blizzard management would like to congratulate the two big stars of the evening, Meagan MacTavish and Jillian Purcell, a duo that excelled throughout the game. Meagan and Jillian are a role model for all girl umpires who dream of a career in the upper ranks. They will also be back at the Jean-Daigle Centre on Saturday, November 19 (7:30 p.m.) for the game between the Blizzard and the South Shore Lumberjacks.
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Photo
Olivier Coulombe expresses his joy after scoring the winning goal in overtime. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone