EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – The regular season took off for the Campbellton Tigers and the Edmundston Blizzard on Friday at the Jean-Daigle Centre in front of 2,077 spectators.
The Tigers erased a 4-3 deficit in the third period to score three unanswered goals that allowed them to beat the Blizzard, 6-4.
A real match in three stages. The Tigers dominated in the first frame to take a 3-1 lead. The Blizzard rallied in the second period to tie the game 3-3.
Edmundston thought it had shattered the visitors’ confidence thanks to Alex Arsenault’s second goal while Edmundston was shorthanded at the 43rd second of the final assault.
Campbellton took things in hand from the 6th minute and imposed their domination thereafter. Connor Richard (6:32), Jake Kyle (7:30) and Austin Arsenault (11:00) quickly put the game out of reach for the Blizzard who suffered a first setback in a season opening game (on the road or at home) in six years of history.
Will Morrison, Justin David and Kiefer Lyons found the back of the net in the first period for the Tigers. Peter Amanatidis (in first), Alex Arsenault (in second) and Tristan Fortin (in second) also scored for the Edmundston squad.
The Tigers led 37-34 in shots. Olivier Leclair (Campbellton) and Simon Couroux (Edmundston) were the two goaltenders.
With a goal and two assists, Richard was selected the game’s first star. The second went to Arsenault (2 goals) and the third to David (1 goal, 2 assists).
The Blizzard can quickly forget this loss as it will host the Grand Falls Rapids, Sunday at 3 p.m., at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
NOTES – Even though this is their first game of the campaign, the Blizzard played without three important players, namely scoring ace Olivier Coulombe, Noah Matulu and Jacob Long, all injured… The veteran 20-year-old Mitchell McLeod will wear the Captain’s C. His assistants are Olivier Coulombe and Jérémy Duguay. McLeod was Blizzard’s first pick (5th overall) in the 2019 MHL Draft.
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Photo
Saint-Charles-de-Kent rocket Alex Arsenault (27) had a nice evening with a pair of goals including this one at 11:59 of the second period. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone