Voodoos silence Storm in goal filled affair
The Powassan Voodoos built up a big lead before eventually handling the Iroquois Falls Storm 8-3 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The Voodoos opened the scoring 11:46 into the first period after Ryan Saginaw swatted in a rebound in close past Storm starter Justin Sullivan off a Braeden Begley attempt from the top of the right circle.
With the tally, Saginaw now has points in each of Powassan’s six games so far this season.
Special teams then saw Powassan strike twice on the power play beginning with Jax Pereira whipping in a crisp cross-ice pass from Cayden Kowal for his initial NOJHL tally.
The assist for Kowal sees him now have an 11-game point streak dating back to last season.
Still up a skater, Heath Bradley made it 3-0 less than a minute later as he eventually stuffed in a chance after a couple of in-close opportunities.
Powassan then tacked on their fourth of the session when Reid de Bokx pumped a shot from the side boards that sailed in for his first career goal.
Continuing to press, the Voodoos extended their cushion early in the second on a five-on-three that saw Anthony Boyes whack in a feed through the crease in eluding Alex Hall who had entered in relief for Iroquois Falls.
However, the Storm surged back with a trio of tallies five minutes apart to get right back in it.
Michael Lacroce began the outburst on a power play as he roofed a short side attempt over Tomas Kniaziew for his first in the NOJHL.
The Storm then saw Lucas Willoughby convert at 11:51 as they forced a turnover in the own zone then moved up ice where he ripped a shot into the left corner.
Making it 5-3, Benjamin Coupal struck shorthanded as he wheeled ahead and made a nice power move to the inside, then sent a snap shot over the blocker of Kniaziew.
Regrouping, Powassan took a three-goal cushion into the second intermission thanks to Owen Head who jammed in a backhand on a downed Hall who was scrambling to get up in his crease.
In the final frame, the Voodoos helped secure the win with a man-down effort off the stick of Jesse Lefebvre after Bradley forced a turnover and set him up where he whistled a shot over the glove of Hall.
Putting it out of reach, Powassan’s Caleb Dawson collected his seventh of the season by shovelling in a loose puck laying on the goal line with just over eight minutes to go in what was the final goal of the evening.
