Festival D’Astous-Collette-Fournier in Grand Falls

GRAND FALLS, New Brunswick – Edmundston Blizzard’s number one line put on a show Friday night in Grand Falls, each player earning five points, the most in the concession’s history since moving Northwest in 2017. Blizzard defeated the Rapids 8-0.

Jérémy D’Astous and Philippe Collette collected two goals and three assists each, while Émile Fournier finished the night with a goal and four assists. Although an assist on the fifth goal went to Carl-Anthony Massé (who was not on the ice at the time), it was Collette who handed the puck to D’Astous for the goal. The league will certainly revise this play to award the assist to Collette, who in the process has joined Dominik Godin of the Summerside Western Capitals in the point scoring race.

Carl-Anthony Massé (12th and 2 assists), Justin Trottier (9th) and Raphaël Denis (9th) scored the winners’ other goals against goalkeeper Adam Lecours, who certainly felt alone several times. Lecours faced 46 shots.

Frédéric Cousineau recorded his first shutout with the Blizzard and second in his MHL career. Composed and confident in front of his net, he had to outdo himself a few times during the game. Earning the third star of the game, he received 26 shots.

D’Astous (19th and 20th) and Collette (20th and 21st) were named first and second stars respectively. The game marked the gathering of four players with their former teams prior to the mega-transaction that saw Raphaël Denis and Jérémy D’Astous traded from the Rapids to the Blizzard in exchange for Nathan Plamondon. A few days later, the Blizzard traded defenseman Paul Slivca to the Rapids.

The victory was the 30th for the Blizzard (30-6-1-1) this season. They’ll have to roll up their sleeves in less than 24 hours, as they host the visiting Truro Bearcats (18-17-0-1) on Saturday at the Jean-Daigle Centre (7:30 p.m.).

Notes: Philippe Collette’s goal at the 16th second from the start of the game set a team record for a road game. The previous record belonged to Paul Leroux, who scored in the 19th second from the start of the game in Miramichi on September 21, 2019. The fastest goal at the Jean-Daigle Centre belongs to Logan Johnston, who achieved the feat in the 15th second on December 15, 2018 against Yarmouth. For Collette, it may be the fastest winning goal in MHL history… The Blizzard still have 14 games to play in the regular season. Nine of these games will be played at the Jean-Daigle Centre.

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Photo
Jérémy D’Astous (11), Philippe Collette (71) and Émile Fournier (81) were sensational Friday night in Grand Falls; goaltender Frédéric Cousineau was perfect. Photos archives Percy Picard

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Source: Hugues Chiasson, responsable des communications – Le Blizzard d’Edmundston ; 506 740-0623 – (tél. cell.)