RAPIDS REMAIN UNBEATEN ON HOME ICE

GRAND FALLS – The Rapids won their 5th game of the season on Sunday afternoon and their 4th on home ice, defeating the Chaleur Ligthning by a 7-4 score.

Grand Falls is now tied with the West Kent Steamers for the lead in the Eastlink North division standings with 11 points, but the Rapids remain only one of two unbeaten teams in regulation time after Sunday’s MHL games. Take note that both the Summerside Western Capitals and the Rapids will clash next Friday night at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

Loic Francoeur led the way offensively for Grand Falls with two goals, including the game-winner in the third period.

Goaltender Adam Lecours notched his 4th victory of the season, making a total of 29 saves.

Things didn’t start out well however for Greg Leland’s squad as the visitors jumped to an early 1-0 lead on Carter Bromley’s first goal of the game at 50 seconds of play.
It didn’t take time for the Rapids to get on the board. Jonah Leard tied the game at 2:01 with his second tally of the season while Declan Kennedy gave his team the lead 35 seconds afterward after picking up a rebound in front of the net.
Matthew Ferdinand, on a power play, would add to the lead at 11:18 on a tip in front of Lightning goaltender Samuel Carreiras-Pata who faced 23 shots.

Chaleur got two goals in the middle frame from Tyson Snow and Carter Bromley (his 2nd of the game). Brayden Campbell, on a breakaway, scored midway in the period for the Rapids who were ahead 4-3 after two periods of play.

Loic Francoeur’s backhand shot made it 5-3 for Grand Falls at 9:17 of the final frame before Will Clark of the Lightning would cut the lead to 5-4 at 14:55.
Zackarie Michaud, in an empty net, scored the Rapids, 6th goal while Loic Francoeur tallied his second goal of the game on a power play with 30 seconds remaining.

Five players collected 2 points for the Rapids on Sunday: Loic Francoeur (2g), Brayden Campbell (1g 1a), Patrick Baxter (2a), Reid Calder (2a) and Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (2a).

The three stars of the game were in order from 1 to 3: Zackarie Michaud (GFR), Brayden Campbell (GFR) and Carter Bromley (CHA).

The Rapids have now collected 1pt to the standings for a 6th consecutive game to start the season. The team has a record of 5 wins and 1 overtime loss for 11 points.

Head coach Greg Leland admits that the strong start is very encouraging, but he mentions that his team is well aware that there is still many games remaining to the regular season schedule.

Leland attributes this solid start to many factors:

“Our success this season comes from a combination of the maturation of our draft picks from previous years through GM Danny Braun, along with the current free agent/trade acquisitions of Mathieu Martin”, mentions Leland.

“From that, the group is working well together and applying itself with purpose during practices which is transferring to the games”.