RAPIDS WIN TWO OUT OF THREE IN NOVA SCOTIA

BERWICK N.S. – The Rapids ended their three-game road trip in Nova Scotia on Saturday night, defeating the Valley Wildcats by a score of 8-4. Brody Paré scored twice for Grand Falls who now sits alone atop the Eastlink North division standings with 26 points.

Despite playing their third game in three nights, the Rapids were the better team on the ice, showing their great offensive talent. The Rapids now total 88 goals on the season, which is the best production in the league thus far.

Reid Calder and Dereck Asselin both scored for the Rapids in the opening frame while Caleb MacDonald replied for the Wildcats.
Grand Falls scored three unanswered goals in the second period, taking a 5-1 lead.
Isaac Allard received a pass in front of the net at 1:52 for his 4th goal of the season, followed by Brody Pare’s first of the game at 4:11 on a rebound in front of the crease. Jonah Leard added goal number 5 on a power play for the visitors at 7:10. It was Leard’s 8th tally of the season.
Josh Vincent cut the lead to three goals, scoring for Valley at 11:19.

Five goals were scored in the third period. Caleb MacDonald scored his second of the night at 2:11 to cut the Rapids’ lead to two goals. But Brayden Campbell (5:35) and Zackarie Michaud (6:27) scored for the Rapids who took a 7-3 lead.
Michael Arsenault for Valley and Brody Pare in an empty net completed the scoring for their respective teams.

The Rapids sent a total of 50 shots on Valley netminders Cohen Stoddard and Sean Hogan who both shared the work between the pipes. Jeremy Thibodeau-Soucy was the Rapids’ goalkeeper, facing a total of 49 shots.

The Rapids return to home ice next Friday when they host the Miramichi Timberwolves. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

EXTRA NOTES:

*Brody Pare (2g 1a) and Loic Francoeur (3a) both finished the game with 3 points for the Rapids.
Caleb MacDonald (2g 1a) and Michael Arsenault (1g 2a) also had 3 points to their record for Valley.

*Three stars of the game: 1- Caleb MacDonald (VAL); 2- Loic Francoeur (GFR); 3- Michael Arsenault (VAL)

*The Rapids complete their Nova Scotia trip with two victories in three games. They are assured of finishing the weekend with at least a tie for first place in the Eastlink North division standings. Chaleur, who trails Grand Falls by 2 points, will play on Sunday when they host the Edmundston Blizzard.

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
3:35 GFR Reid Calder (5) ASST: Declan Kennedy (2), Dereck Asselin (5)

15:20 VAL Caleb MacDonald (13) ASST: Felix Belanger (6), Josh Vincent (7)

19:56 GFR Dereck Asselin (4) ASST: Loic Francoeur (13), Patrick Baxter (5)

2nd
1:52 GFR Isaac Allard (4) ASST: Loic Francoeur (14), Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (10)

4:11 GFR Brody Pare (4) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (6), Oliver Plante (7)

7:10 GFR Jonah Leard (8) ASST: Mathis Cyr (9), Loic Francoeur (15) (PP)

11:19 VAL Josh Vincent (1) ASST: Michael Arsenault (12), Antoine Pilotte (3) (PP)

3rd
2:11 VAL Caleb MacDonald (14) ASST: Michael Arsenault (13), Drew Lutz (12)

5:35 GFR Brayden Campbell (5) ASST: Brody Pare (6)

6:27 GFR Zackarie Michaud (9) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (7), Reid Calder (5)

6:53 VAL Michael Arsenault (8) ASST: Caleb MacDonald (14)

18:10 GFR Brody Pare (5) ASST: Isaac Allard (8), Patrick Baxter (6) (SH)