GRAND FALLS, New Brunswick – Has the long-awaited rivalry between the Grand Falls Rapids and the Edmundston Blizzard finally arrived?
Judging by Sunday’s game, which Grand Falls won 2-1 in a shootout, and the parity between the two teams, it looks like the battle for the Northwest is well and truly underway.
Jonah Leard settled the debate in the shootout, being the only one to score.The Rapids started the game like a steamroller, completely dominating in all aspects during the first ten minutes of play. Dereck Asselin scored the first goal at 1:03, and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Michael Ward’s men. But that was before goalie Rylan Benner stepped up and put on a show in front of the Blizzard net. He literally kept his team in the game.
Little by little, the Blizzard regained its confidence and cohesion and created some excellent scoring chances, but they were denied by goalie Adam Lecours, who was at the top of his game and always seems to play his best against the Blizzard.
It took a masterful move by Blizzard’s William Labranche at 15:34 of the third period to tie the game at 1-1 and force overtime. Just before that, with 3:44 left in the third, the Rapids could have pulled away with the win in regulation when Olivier Plante was awarded a penalty shot. Once again, Benner held strong.
Lecours (1st), Benner (2nd), and Leard (3rd) were selected the stars of the game. Labranche, who was literally everywhere on the ice, was by far the best skater on either team. He was the third Blizzard player to take a shot in the shootout and could have kept the session going, but his shot hit the post.
Overall, the Blizzard dominated 45-41 in shots in a game marked by speed and, at times, rough play. One thing is certain: the 1,496 spectators got their money’s worth, and the next matchup, on October 9 in Edmundston, looks very promising.
The Blizzard will play their next game next Thursday (7:30 p.m.) when they host the West Kent Steamers.
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Photo
Rylan Benner gave a masterful performance on Sunday in Grand Falls. Photo archives Nui Lapyinyong
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741