2026 Metalfab MHL Cup Final
Truro Bearcats vs Edmundston Blizzard
- Game 1 – Monday, April 20th, 7 p.m. – Rath Eastlink Community Centre
- Game 2 – Tuesday, April 21st, 7 p.m. – Rath Eastlink Community Centre
- Game 3 – Friday, April 24th, 7:30 p.m. – Centre Jean Daigle
- Game 4 – Saturday, April 25th, 7:30 p.m. – Centre Jean Daigle
- Game 5 – Monday, April 27th, 7 p.m. – Rath Eastlink Community Centre*
- Game 6 – Wednesday, April 29th, 7:30 p.m. – Centre Jean Daigle*
- Game 7 – Friday, May 1st, 7 p.m. – Rath Eastlink Community Centre*
*if necessary
| Truro | Edmundston | |
| 34-14-3-1 (2nd) | Regular Season Record (MHL Rank) | 30-16-3-3 (6th) |
| 4-3 vs Summerside | Division Final Result | 4-2 vs Chaleur |
| 2021-22 – 4-1L vs Summerside | Previous Appearance in League Final | 2024-25 – 4-0W vs Pictou County |
| 2.83 (4th) | Playoff Goals For per game | 4.80 (1st) |
| 1.67 (1st) | Playoff Goals Against per game | 2.80 (3rd) |
| 20.4% (5th) | Playoff Powerplay % | 22.2% (3rd) |
| 91.9% (1st) | Playoff Penalty Kill % | 87.2% (3rd) |
| Callum Aucoin – 8 G, 3 A | Playoff Top Scorer | William Labranche – 9 G, 6 A |
| Jayden Connors – 2 G, 6 A | Playoff Top Scoring Defenseman | Zachary Robichaud – 1 G, 6 A |
| Sam Berthiaume – 8-4-0-0, 1.71 GAA, .947 SV%, 2 SO | Playoff Goaltender Stats | Cedric Massé – 8-1-1-0, 2.76 GAA, .915 SV% |
| 2-0-0-0 | Head-to-Head Record | 0-2-0-0 |
| Éli Baillargeon – 2 G, 3 A | Leading Scorer in Season Series | William Labranche – 1 G, 1 A
Eliott Guenette – 2 A |
Previous Meetings
- November 15th – Edmundston 1 Truro 5
- November 29th – Truro 7 Edmundston 2
Notes
- This is the first playoff matchup between Edmundston and Truro since the Blizzard franchise was located in Dieppe. The teams faced off in the 2014 and 2015 finals, with Truro winning the first matchup in six games. Dieppe swept Truro in 2015. The Blizzard are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back MHL titles since the Antigonish Bulldogs (now the Valley Wildcats) in 1993 and 1994.
- The Blizzard have eight of the top 20 scorers in the Metalfab MHL Cup Playoffs, led by William Labranche’s fifteen points. The Blizzard steamrolled their way to the finals, scoring nearly five goals per game. That’s almost a full two goals more than Truro. The bearcats have four players in the top 20 in playoff scoring.
- As you would expect from Edmundston’s offensive output, they lead the playoffs with 37.8 shots per game, compared to 30.9 for Truro, which ranks them fifth. The Bearcats are second only to Summerside for shots allowed per game in the playoffs at 32.4, while the Blizzard are just behind them at 33.1.
- Edmundston’s Labranche and Michael Derbidge enter Game 1 each riding a six-game points streak. Truro’s Jake Todd has a four-game assist and points streak.
- Once again, it will be youth versus experience when it comes to the goaltenders. 16-year-old Sam Berthiaume continued his outstanding play for Truro in the Division Final against Summerside, holding the MHL’s top offence in the regular season to two or fewer goals in five of the seven games. The Rookie All-Star goaltender posted a 2.04 goals against average and a .933 save percentage with one shutout against Summerside. On the other side is the Goaltender of the Year and Eastlink North All-Star, 20-year-old Cedric Massé. The Blizzard’s netminder had a 2.73 goals against average and a .919 save percentage against the Lightning in the Division Final.
- The teams have seen nearly equal output from their defensemen on the scoresheet as Edmundston’s blueline has collected 24 points, compared to 23 for Truro. The Bearcats have two goals from Jayden Connors and one from Logan Quinn, all of which were game-winners. Zachary Robichaud’s lone goal was the game-winner for the Blizzard in the first round against West Kent.
- Truro’s five rookie skaters who have played in the playoffs have collected thirteen points, plus an assist from Berthiaume, continuing to build on the experience they gained during the regular season. Edmundston’s four rookie skaters in the playoffs have totalled four points, with three goals from François-Xavier Mercier.
- Both teams have been excellent at killing penalties to this point in the playoffs. After allowing just one goal in 22 powerplay chances against the Crushers in round one, the Bearcats cut down on their penalties against Summerside as the Western Capitals went just 2-for-15 in the Eastlink South Division Final. West Kent were 2-for-17 against the Blizzard in round one, with Chaleur going 3-for-22 in the Eastlink North Division Final. The team that’s able to score a powerplay goal or two could very well find the difference in this series.
- Edmundston’s powerplay at home has been deadly in these playoffs, going 5-for-12 (41.7%) at Centre Jean Daigle, while it’s 1-for-15 on the road. Truro has also had better success at home on the powerplay, 27.3% compared to 14.8% on the road.
- The first goal has been a huge boost to both teams. Edmundston is 5-0 when scoring first, while Truro is 5-1.