“It was such an exciting game to be a part of (Friday night) and then (Saturday night)…you wanted to put a paper bag over your head.”
That was Powassan Voodoos head coach Scott Wray when describing the difference between the first two games in franchise history.
The Voodoos (0-1-0-1) went into Iroquois Falls looking for their first win but four Brady Clouthier goals was more than enough for the Abitibi Eskimos (1-0-0-0) to win 7-1 Saturday night.
This, after a tight 5-4 double overtime loss to the Cochrane Crunch 24 hours earlier. A game that the Voodoos had a late-game lead and couldn’t hold on.
“A very emotional loss for us (Friday) night and it just showed (Saturday night), the lack of the maturity on our team,” said Wray, “I bet you the kids in there thought we’d come out here and walk all over Abitibi and they got their lunch handed to them.”
Wray says it is a learning process for a young team and tomorrow is a new day.
“We’ll go back to work and we keep working on what works,” he said.
“Tonight is a very good example of what happens when we don’t stick to our game plan and we try to force pucks down the middle and try to force pucks through where they’re just clogging it up.”
Nate McLeod had the only goal for Powassan, a late first period tally after the Eskis took a 3-0 lead.
Clouthier went on to score two power play goals in the second and then rounded out the scoring with two even strength markers in the third.
The Eskis went 4-for-9 overall on the man advantage while the Voodoos went scoreless on six opportunities.
It was a near 180 degree turn when it came to physical play as well.
A rather tame game in Cochrane switched to a war of attrition at the Igloo, with three fights and multiple game misconduct calls going both ways.
Brett Lepisto and Harrison Jacobs went at it with just under eight minutes gone in the second period.
Moments later, Sudbury Wolves prospect Michael Silveri and Nolan Smith were sent off for the Voodoos after going toe-to-toe with Kyle Levis and Barrie Colts prospect Brendan Locke after the whistle.
Nonetheless, Wray says it’s a weekend his team will just have to learn from.
“That’s all we got to do,” he said, “That’s all we can do.”
Wray and the Voodoos have a little less than a week to prepare for their regular season home opener next Friday night, September 12th.
That’s when the Crunch come to town for a 7:30pm puck drop.
Game Notes
-Ben Auger surrendered all seven goals, but made 36 saves in the game. He was replaced by backup Randy Beauchamp, who steered aside four shots.
-The Voodoos fired 40 shots at Eskis goaltender Chet Tooker, who came away with the win.
