MIRAMICHI, N.B. – What a start for the Edmundston Blizzard, who clobbered the Miramichi Timberwolves 9-4 in the Eastern team opener Thursday night.
After taking a 2-0 lead early in the first period, the Timberwolves quickly saw the Blizzard’s punch as they took a 4-2 lead in the blink of an eye. And for the next two periods, they got to know Tristan Fortin who looked like Maurice Richard. The Blizzard forward netted a tying team-record four goals, the same as Sam King (October 9, 2018) and Chrystopher Collin (December 18, 2019). Fortin rounded off his dream night by adding an assist for a total of five points.
Tristan Therrien (1g, 2a), Blake Richardson (1g, 1a), Austin Paul (1g, 1a), Mitchell McLeod and Dylan Lang also participated in the offensive festival by beating goaltender Kenzie MacPhail of the Timberwolves. Ethan Johnson had his best game since playing in the MHL with three assists.
Jacob Santerre (2g, 1a), Mason Beck (1b, 1a) and Kennedy Gallant shook the ropes behind Blizzard’s goalie Raphaël Audet.
The Blizzard led 57-21 in shots. The 28 shots fired in the third period eclipsed an old Blizzard team mark (25 shots done three times).
Unsurprisingly, Fortin earned the first star of the game. The other two went to Johnson (second) and Santerre (third).
The Blizzard’s return trip will certainly be very enjoyable. They will have to get back on their skates quickly, however, as they host the Summerside Western Capitals on Saturday, a team that has always given the Edmundston squad a hard time. This will be the Blizzard’s home opener. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and the doors of the Jean-Daigle Centre will open at 6 p.m. to speed up the entrance of spectators who will have to present their complete vaccination record, a government ID in addition to wearing the mask.
More records falling
The Blizzard smashed four more records Thursday night. Both Fortin and Paul’s two first-period goals came 7 seconds apart (the former 12-second mark belonged to the Aaron Brown-Mitchell McLeod duo on November 2, 2019). McLeod added another goal later for a record three goals in 53 seconds, beating the former 1:49 mark set on October 6, 2019, by the trio Tommy Bertrand-Dylan Lang-Mitchell McLeod). Considering Blake Richardson’s goal scored earlier in the period, these four goals scored in 3:09 shattered the record of 4:59 dating back to March 6, 2019 (Gabriel Vanier, Jean-Maxime Bond, Aaron Brown, and Bond again). Meanwhile, no other player in Blizzard history has scored three goals in one period, as Fortin did on Thursday night.
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Photo
It was Tristan Fortin’s night Thursday in Miramichi. The Blizzard forward tied a team record with four goals, and he added an assist. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone