EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Veteran Peter Amanatidis will wear the Edmundston Blizzard captain’s “C” for the 2023-24 season. Team personnel made the announcement late this afternoon. He succeeds Mitchell McLeod, former number 18.
In his new role, Amanatidis will be supported by three assistants: forwards Félix Bédard and Marco Martin, as well as defenseman Jérémie Thibodeau.
Montreal-born, fiery forward Amanatidis quickly established a solid reputation upon his arrival with the Blizzard for the 2021-2022 season. Over the past two campaigns, he has tallied 20 goals and 38 assists in 85 games.
At 20 years of age, he’s a player of character who always gives his all on the ice, and never backs down in front of opponents no matter their size. His work ethic and relentlessness have quickly won him the hearts of the fans at the Jean-Daigle Centre. He’s a natural leader with great rallying qualities. What’s more, he enjoys mingling with the crowd and meeting the fans.
Amanatidis will be surrounded by players with significant experience. On the one hand, Marco Martin and Jérémie Thibodeau are also veteran players. The first overall pick in the 2022 MHL midget draft, Martin (19) had a 16-point (4g, 12a) season in 49 games last year. Like his captain, he likes to play hard and should increase his offensive output. As for Thibodeau (19), he is a dependable rearguard who has played a combined 107 games in the junior ranks (QMJHL and AHL), totaling 28 points (4b, 24p). He will be donning the Blizzard uniform for a fifth season. On the other hand, Félix Bédard (who turns 20 in November) had a successful stint last year with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL, where he collected 12 goals and 20 assists in 63 games. In two seasons in the Q, he played 118 games.
Peter Amanatidis and his teammates are getting ready for the start of the season, which kicks off on Friday (against the West Kent Steamers) and Saturday (against the Fredericton Red Wings). Both games at the Jean-Daigle Centre start at 7:30 p.m.
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Photo
Peter Amanatidis, Jérémie Thibodeau, Marco Martin et Félix Bédard. Photos Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone