EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – There’s no greater satisfaction for a hockey player than to score the winning goal in overtime on his birthday in front of family, friends and cheering fans. This was the case for ace scorer Félix Bédard, who celebrated his 20th birthday today.
Bédard literally stripped the opposing defense and goalie at 1:09 of overtime, giving the Edmundston Blizzard a 4-3 victory over the Miramichi Timberwolves in front of a very relieved crowd of 2,123 persons.
In doing so, the Blizzard ended a four-game losing streak. It was a hard-fought game between these two great opponents. The Blizzard held on to leads of 1-0 and 3-2 at the end of the first two periods.
Jérémy Fortin (8th) opened the scoring at 4:49 of the first period. Philippe Collette (9th) made it 2-0 on the power play at 2:16 of the second. But the Timberwolves held firm. Jérémy Duhamel (7th) reduced the gap to one goal at 5:47. Ryan Loveless (6th), however, gave the hosts a two-goal cushion at 13:39. Forty-six seconds later, Ludovic Dufort (14th) countered with a goal at 14:25.
The Wolves tied the game at 5:54 of the third period, a goal from rearguard Travis Badcock.
Bédard sent the crowd into hysterics, first beating a defenseman, then masterfully rounding the goalie to lodge the puck in an abandoned cage. It was Bédard’s 16th goal of the season.
Bédard (1st), Fortin (2nd) and Dufort (3rd) earned the stars of the meeting.
Goalkeepers Jack Flanagan (35 saves) and Nicholas Sheehan (30 saves) were solid.
It was the first overtime game for Simon Olivier’s team in 19 games this campaign.
The Blizzard (11-8-0-0) play their first game of the season against the Grand Falls Rapids (7-9-0-2) next Wednesday (7 p.m.) at the E. & P. Sénéchal Center. The two teams will face off again two days later at the Jean-Daigle Centre (7:30 p.m.).
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Photo
Félix Bédard propels himself into the glass after scoring the winning goal in overtime on Sunday. (Photo Percy Picard)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone