NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016
Canadians rally to earn a point in 4-4 draw with Voodoos
CHELMSFORD, Ont. – The Rayside-Balfour Canadians stormed back from a four-goal deficit to earn a 4-4 double overtime tie with the Powassan Voodoos in a back and forth Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Sunday at Chelmsford Arena.
It was all Voodoos in the opening 20 minutes as the visitors jumped out to a 3-0 lead on tallies by Daniel Golba on the power play, Michael Silveri at even strength and another man advantage effort courtesy of Nathaniel McLeod.
Powassan went up by four 5:12 into the second stanza as Silveri collected his second of the night and 21st overall.
Rayside-Balfour got some life with 14 seconds remaining in the session as Sam Oden found the back of the net with his club up a man.
Building on their momentum, the Canadians pulled to within two in the first minute of the third thanks to Jayme Forslund.
Otis Goldman’s 25th at 7:19 brought Rayside-Balfour ever closer and they then forced extra time late with Bradley Chenier’s equalizer with just over a half minute left in regulation.
Neither side would be able to convert in each of the two, five-minute OT sessions, which saw the clubs skate four-on-four and then three-on-three respectively.
Both goaltenders were exceptional in extra time taking turns making big saves, including the Canadians’ MacKenzie Savard robbing Powassan’s Tyler Peters with a glove save on a breakaway in the second OT while Mario Cavaliere of the Voodoos also made a number of huge stops in the other end.
Shots on goal favoured Rayside-Balfour 46-38.
Francois Lemelin had two assists for the visitors.
Powassan returns to game action Monday evening as they host the French River Rapids at 7 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
The Canadians next game goes Wednesday when they head to Sault Ste. Marie to tangle with the league-leading Soo Thunderbirds in a 7 p.m. start at Essar Centre.
