Voodoos strike quickly and often in downing Rapids
Notching a pair of quick tallies set the tone as the Powassan Voodoos went on to roll past the French River Rapids 12-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League mid-week match-up Wednesday at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The Voodoos took the lead a minute and a half in, moments after Powassan netminder Tomas Kniaziew made a big save at one end, then saw them transition quickly as an open Jesse Lefebvre whipped a shot that Rapids starter Keiran Caughran could not quite control before it slid in.
Adding another one on the next shift, Ryan Saginaw chipped a loose puck along the side boards ahead and raced in on a breakaway that he lifted in for his team-leading 17th of the season.
That saw French River opt to make a goaltending change as Matis Bureau-Morel entered in long relief.
Go up 3-0 at 12:16, Raphael Landry pumped in a rebound from close range off a Tyler Brunet shot from the slot.
Moving to the middle frame, the home side clicked on a tail-end of a power play that saw Marcus Krats move in from the point where he made a quick move in the right circle and ripped in his fourth goal of the season while scoring for a second-straight outing.
Brunet then collected the leftovers off a play at the top of the crease and stuffed in his initial NOJHL tally to make it 5-0.
Continuing the onslaught, Powassan captain Justin Rousseau also connected from close range as did Lefebvre, who chipped in a cross-ice pass put in the blue paint from Parker Bonsignore.
The Rapids got one back as Bryson Villeneuve darted down the left wing before finding defenceman Nolan McVeigh, who had joined the rush, with a pass that he corralled and snapped it past Kniaziew at 11:23.
Krats however answered that a few minutes later by picking up his own rebound and lofting it in from a tight angle for his second of the evening.
Some crisp puck movement on the power play late the session saw French River convert on a play chopped in by Nicholas Arbour while battling in front.
One more early effort made it 9-2 as Powassan’s Paval Barclay clicked 20 seconds into the final stanza.
Reaching double digits, Lefebvre picked up his hat trick by using a defender as a screen and wiring in an attempt from the high slot.
Braeden Begley then tucked one into the open corner before Dylan Rousselle connected from the left wing to complete the one-sided result.
Winners of three in a row, the Voodoos return to the ice Friday as they visit the Espanola Paper Kings while the Rapids host the Soo Thunderbirds the same evening.
