GRAND-BOUCTOUCHE, New Brunswick – The Edmundston Blizzard once again came up against stiff resistance in the eastern part of the province, losing 3-2 to the West Kent Steamers in Grand-Bouctouche.
This was the Blizzard’s third loss of the season, by one goal and two against the Steamers, who always kept their lead once they scored their first goal.
Former Blizzard defenseman Aiden Diamond scored his first MHL goal during a man advantage at 14:20 of the first period.
It didn’t take long for the Steamers (5-2-2-0) to give themselves a two-goal lead at 18 seconds of the middle period, thanks to Alex Christmas’s first goal of the campaign. On a five-minute power play, Peter Amanatidis narrowed the gap to one goal at 13:54.
In the third period, Alexis Daniel found the back of the net at 13:08 for his 10th goal of the season after easily beating a Blizzard defenseman. Less than a minute later (14:03), Félix Bédard gave the Blizzard hope with his 9th goal of the campaign.
Around the 3-minute mark of the final frame, a major penalty was assessed to a Blizzard defenseman for a blow to the head, even though the Steamers player had lost his footing along the rail. It was a five-minute penalty that the Blizzard could have avoided after a good start to the period.
Edmundston thought they had tied the game in the final minutes when Amanatidis found the back of the net. But goalie Xavier Fisk had just moved his net before the puck entered the net.
The Blizzard (7-3-0-0) led 30-26 in shots. After three meetings between these two teams, the same two goalkeepers have faced each other. So far, it’s Steamers goalie Xavier Fisk who has the best record in the exchange, with two wins and one loss.
Aiden Diamond (1st), Peter Amanatidis (2nd) and Alexis Daniel (3rd) earned stars in Sunday’s match.
It’s going to be a busy week for the Blizzard, with home games on Thursday and Saturday against Pictou County and Summerside respectively. Both games are at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, at 2 p.m., Simon Olivier’s team will be in the provincial capital to take on the Fredericton Red Wings.
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Photo
Captain Peter Amanatidis was the best Blizzard on the ice Sunday. He had a point on each goal (1g, 1a). (Photo archives Percy Picard)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone