The Rapids earned one win out of two games played over the weekend, bringing their record to 3 wins and 7 losses on the season.
They currently sit in 5th spot in the EastLinkNorth division standings, 3 points behind the Campbellton Tigers and MiramichiTimberwolves.
Friday night’s victory against the Valley Wildcats was an important one for Greg Leland’s squad. Not only did it serve as a boost of confidence for the team, but there were also some great things that happened on the offensive front.
Let’s say that for a team who had scored only two goals in as many contests the previous weekend, filling the net on 8 occasions against the Wildcats was more than promising.
What was even more promising is the fact that a couple of players scored their first goals in a Rapids’ uniform (Jacob Pelletier and Dawson Grandy) while Jonah Leard resumed his offensive prowess with a 4-point night by adding 2 goals and 1 assist to his record.
But it was newcomer Jeremy D’Astous who had the most prolific night, scoring once while picking up 4 assists for a 5-point performance.
It is a fact that the Rapids do have some scoring punch. There are 8 players who have scored thus far 2 goals or more. Jonah Leard leads the pack with 8 tallies this season, which ranks him tied for 4th in the league. Leard has also 5 power play goals to his credit, which is the second-best mark in the MHL as of Monday. His overall record stands at 8 goals and 3 assists for 11 points, which ranks him among the top 20 in the league.
Sunday’s contest against the Campbellton Tiger was more difficult on the offensive front. However, the Rapids started the game with great pace, obtaining many good scoring chances from up close. They had to deal with a red hot netminder in Adam Rouleau who had previously given up only 1 goal to Edmundstonin the Tigers’ victory over the Blizzard on Friday night.
The Rapids will continue their homestand next weekend as they play the Yarmouth Mariners on Friday night and the West Kent Steamers on Sunday afternoon. They hope to see the return of some injured players, notably Nicholas Brennan and Ty Hunter up front and Ethan Kane at the blue line. Will Morrison should also be expected back in the lineup after serving a suspension.
With a healthy D-line and more help offensively, the team should be ready for the task ahead.
Patrick Thibault
TEAM NEWS AND STATS
*The Rapids have a plus/minus differential of -12 (28 goals for and 40 goals against).
Their power play efficiency is at 15% (5th in their division) while the penalty kill is ranked 4th in the EastLink North at 81.4%.
The Rapids are second in the league in penalty minutes (280 min.).
*Jonah Leard (3g 8a) and Jeremy D’Astous (2g 9a) share first spot among the team’s leading scorers with 11 points each. Brayden Campbell is third with a record of 4g 3a for 7pts.
*Following Sunday’s games, Adam Lecours was 7th in the league in save percentage for goalkeepers with a mark of .900.
Lecours has been between the pipes for all three victories by the Rapids thus far.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
*Both the Edmundston Blizzard andSummerside Western Capitals were handedtheir first losses last Friday night. Edmundston dropped a 4-1 decision to the CampbelltonTigers while the Western Capitals were beaten 6-5 by West Kent in overtime.
Both teams still lead their respective divisions by 5 points or more.
*Two Summerside players are tied for the lead among the league’s leading scorers with 19 points. They are Brett Arsenault with a record of 9g 10a and Robbie Rutledge with 8g 11a.
Philippe Collette of Edmundston is third with 7g 11a for 18 points.
*Rhyah Stewart of the West Kent Steamers still leads the league in goals against average with 1.33 in three starts between the pipes.
Two Blizzard goalies come in second and third in GAA: Simon Boucher (2.00) and Jack Howatt (2.20).
THE RAPIDS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
*Friday October 18: Yarmouth at Rapids (7:00 pm)
*Sunday October 20: West Kent at Rapids(3:00 pm)