EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Inspired by a hat trick and an assist from forward Jérémy Duguay, the Edmundston Blizzard had no difficulty beating the South Shore Lumberjacks 5-1 at the Jean-Daigle Centre on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old player from Tracadie had his first three-goal game in his 95th career game in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. He has 11 goals this season, a high in his four-year career.
Olivier Coulombe scored his 12th goal of the season in just his 8th game. He has tallied a point in each of his games.
Mitchell McLeod, with his 13th of the season, scored the other goal for the Blizzard (12-10-0-1) which is on a good run of six consecutive victories. With 25 points in 23 games, Edmundston now ranks second in the Eastlink North Division, but the Blizzard has played many more games than its most serious rivals, the Campbellton Tigers (26 points in 19 games) and the Summerside Western Capitals (24 points in 16 games).
Bennett Kuhnlein deprived Samuel LeBlanc of a shutout with a goal in the 7th minute of the third period. LeBlanc’s last game in front of the Blizzard goal was on November 6.
The Blizzard outrageously dominated in the shots column, 44-19. The Lumberjacks relied on 18-year-old affiliate goaltender Keegan Greencorn, who was playing his first career MHL game.
Duguay (1st), McLeod (2nd) and Colby Morin (3rd), all from the Blizzard, earned the three stars of the game. Morin continues to impress with his determination and his ability to provoke something with each of his appearances on the ice.
For the first time in its young history of six years in Edmundston, the Blizzard managed to win three consecutive games in three days.
The Blizzard will return to the Jean-Daigle Centre ice rink next Thursday (7:30 p.m.) when they host the Miramichi Timberwolves (7-7-3-1).
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Photo
Jérémy Duguay had his second four-point game in six days. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone