Blizzard players greet the crowd as they leave the rink following their 5-2 victory on Wednesday night at the Jean-Daigle Centre. Two days later, the team clinched its very first regular season title. Photo Olivier Chiasson
The Blizzard (36-9-3-0) has 75 points with two games to play, while Yarmouth (35-13-1-0) has only one game left with 71 points in the standings. This championship gives the Blizzard ice advantage during all series.
In its very first season in the MHL, the Blizzard is writing another fascinating page in its young history. If Saturday’s game in St. Stephen and Sunday’s one in Edmundston against Woodstock suddenly lose their importance in the standings, they will serve as preparation for the playoffs that will begin next weekend.
And it’s Saturday night (March 10) that the Blizzard players will know their opponents for the first round of the playoffs in the EastLink North division. The Campbellton Tigers (24-22-2-2) and Miramichi Timberwolves (23-20-3-3) are tied for 3rd and 4th place with 52 points each. Campbellton is the only team that has completed its 50-game schedule. Miramichi must earn a point on Saturday to finish third. But the task will be hard because the Timberwolves face the Summerside Western Capitals (32-16-1-0) who finished their campaign very strong. If Miramichi loses in regulation time, Campbellton will finish third because of one more win in the standings.
In the Nova Scotian EastLink South division, opponents in the playoffs have been known for some time. Yarmouth will face Truro, while Amherst will battle South Shore.
All MHL playoffs are best of 7. The playoffs schedule will be announced very soon after the teams agree on the dates.
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone