GRAND FALLS, N.B. – Thanks to a 6-2 win on Sunday in Grand Falls, the Edmundston Blizzard climbed to first place in the Eastlink North Division of the MHL, tied with the Chaleur Lightning. However, the Bathurst team has three games in hand.
Regardless, the Blizzard is currently the team of the moment in the league with a six-game winning streak, the best for Michael Ward’s team this season.
On Sunday, the Blizzard struck early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead (7th by Alex Thibault) at 2:52 and adding a second goal (11th by Charles-Éric Tremblay) at 8:46.
However, the home team evened the score in the first half of the second period, scoring at 1:02 (16th goal by Jonah Leard) and at 9:49 (2nd goal by Conor Ryan). But before the period ended, Michael Arsenault beat the goalie with four seconds left on the clock, a goal that would prove to be the game-winner. It was the 13th goal for the Prince Edward Island forward.
As usual, the Blizzard dominated in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals by Eliott Guenette (10th at 2:34), Darien Thomson (31st at 17:15) and Émile Fournier (15th) into an empty net at 18:12.
Noah Larochelle had two assists in the win. Eliott Guenette (1st), Jonah Leard (2nd), and Zachary Robichaud (3rd) were named the stars of the game, which was played in front of 1,146 spectators at the E. and P. Sénéchal Center.
Noah Larochelle had two assists in the win. Eliott Guenette (1st), Jonah Leard (2nd), and Zachary Robichaud (3rd) were named the stars of the game, which was played in front of 1,146 spectators at the E.-et-P.-Sénéchal Center.
Cédric Massé earned the win in goal for the Blizzard. He faced 24 shots, while his opponent, Adam Lecours, faced 29.
The Blizzard (21-14-1-2 = 45 pts) is now tied with the Chaleur Lightning (21-11-2-1 – 45 pts) in first place in the Eastlink North Division. The West Kent Steamers (19-11-3-3 = 44 pts) are tied for third place with the Rapids (20-14-1-2 = 44 pts). Only one point separates first from fourth place in the North standings. With 14 to 17 games left to play before the end of the season, depending on the number of games each team has left, this game of musical chairs is likely to continue for a while.
The Blizzard is enjoying a few well-deserved days off. Next weekend, they will play two games on the road. On Friday, January 23 (7 p.m.), they will be in Grand Bouctouche to face the West Kent Steamers. The next day (7 p.m.), they will travel to Miramichi to cross swords with the Timberwolves (12-23-2-1).
NOTES – Darien Thomson and William Labranche’s streaks are still alive… Thomson scored a goal in his seventh consecutive game, closing in on the team record of nine held by Olivier Coulombe (2022-2023) and Émile Fournier (2024-2025). During the Blizzard’s first season in 2017-2018, Kyle Ward started the campaign with seven consecutive games with at least one goal… Labranche extended his streak of games with at least one point to 12, which is still well below the Blizzard record of 27 held by Olivier Coulombe.
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With one goal and one assist, Eliott Guenette was named the first star of Sunday’s game in Grand Falls. Photo Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741