EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Alexis Jacques wasn’t chosen MHL defenseman of the month for September by pure chance. The hockey player from Portneuf, Quebec, gave the Yarmouth Mariners defense a run for its money on Saturday night, when he guided the Edmundston Blizzard to a 3-1 win in front of an overexcited crowd of 2,557 at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
After setting up Justin Hébert’s (5th) tying goal early in the second period with another of his masterful passes, Jacques made a play à la Larry Robinson to fool the opposing defense with a surge from his own territory. His 3rd goal of the season, at 7:17 of the second period, proved to be the winner.
Émile Fournier (8th) broke the visitors’ backs at 10:10 of the third period by skilfully lofting the disc over goalkeeper Thomas Fontaine, who had just committed with his butterfly style.
Ryan Loveless, who was traded from the Blizzard to the Mariners in the afternoon, netted the Mariners’ (4-7-0-1) only goal, his fourth of the campaign at 3:12 of the opening period, past goaltender Simon Boucher who faced 17 shots. Fontaine received 40 shots in front of the Mariners cage.
Traded in return for Loveless, Will Allen played an excellent game even if he didn’t register on the score sheet.
Jacques (1st), Fournier (2nd) and Fontaine (3rd) were named the stars of the game.
With 24 points, the Blizzard (12-1-0-0) are in first place overall in the MHL, four ahead of the Summerside Western Capitals (9-1-2-0), who have a game in hand. In the Eastlink North division, Edmundston leads West-Kent (6-3-1-0) by 11 points.
– 30 –
Photo
After beating defenseman Nathan Mossey, Alexis Jacques goes one-on-one with the goalie on this sequence to score a spectacular second-period goal.. Photo Percy Picard
– 30 –
Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 740-0623