EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Gabriel Vanier and Francis Asselin were the spark plugs of the Edmundston Blizzard on Saturday night who blanked the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 6-0 in front of 2,827 fans at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
First, Vanier tied his best performance of the season with two goals, including his 30th of the season, and three assists. Second, Francis Asselin stood up like a wall blocking all 23 shots of the Weeks Crushers (22-18-3-4, 51 pts) who are desperately trying to qualify for a spot in the playoffs in the EastLink South division of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
Dallas Maurovic (1g, 2a), Malcolm Arseneau (1g, 1a), Félix Rioux (1g), Tristan Mercure (1g) and Sam King (2a) also contributed offensively for the Blizzard who saw its record go to 23-17-6-1 for 53 points.
The Blizzard literally stunned the visitors from the start, taking a 3-0 lead at only 5:55 of the first period. Vanier started everything at 2:09, then scored the 4th goal that really hurt the Crushers at 19:25 of the end of the first period.
We saw the Francis Asselin of the older days which is a great sign with the playoffs closing on. He collected his third shutout of the campaign to match his three he got last season.
Vanier (1st), Asselin (2nd) and Maurovic (3rd) were the three starts of the game.
The Blizzard put an end to a bad sequence of five games withtout a win.
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Photo
Gabriel Vanier and Francis Asselin stole the show on Saturday night in Edmundston. Photos archives Digiphoto
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell