EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – The Campbellton Tigers showed their colors during their first game of the season. They showed the Edmundston Blizzard that they were to be taken seriously. Canadian Tire Cup finalists last spring, the Tigers easily defeated the Blizzard 5-1 on Sunday afternoon. For the Blizzard, it was the first game in front of their fans.
The 2,745 spectators saw Charles-William Gagné stand up for the Tigers. First star of the game, he scored two goals and collected an assist to lead his team to victory.
Maxime Charest (2nd star) and Riley Bezeau scored in the first period for the visitors. Edmundston responded well at the start of the second period at 5:47 on Tristan Gagnon’s wrister. The Blizzard’s captain was selected the third star of the afternoon. But the Tigers quicky answered with two quick goals at 7:08 (Gagné) and 11:31 (Coleton Perry), putting the game out of reach for the Blizzard. With a 4-1 lead entering the third period, the Tigers controlled the pace of the game. Gagné added an insurance goal at 15:58 of the third.
Tristan Gray was solid in front of the visitors’ cage. He pushed 19 of the 20 pucks fired against him. Ewan MacDonald was the goalkeeper of the Blizzard. Although he only faced 22 shots, he did not have much to blame in the loss.
The Blizzard will return to the ice of the Jean-Daigle Centre next Friday (7:30 pm) when Edmundston meets the Summerside Western Capitals.
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Photo
Heavy traffic in front of Campbellton Tigers’ goaltender Tristan Gray. Frédéric Castonguay (14), Brock McLeod (10), Ben Lightbody (12) and Liam Best (7) watch the action closely. (Photo Digiphoto)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, Edmundston Blizzard vice-president communications; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone