Photo: voodooshockey.com
The Powassan Voodoos will be busy with a home and home series with the French River Rapids along with attending the Valley Cottage Cup as part of the club’s preparation for the upcoming NOJHL regular season.
The Voodoos, who open training camp with a golf tournament on August 24, play their first pre season action against the Rapids on Sunday, August 27 for a matinee at the Sportsplex and then head to Noelville on Wednesday evening to face the Rapids.
Goulet expects to play a young lineup for the Rapids contests.
“I know what my veterans can do,” stated Goulet.
“I have got to evaluate the young guys and see what they can do and decide which guys are going to make our team this year.”
The Voodoos will then head east to take part in the 2nd annual Valley Cottage Cup which takes place September 1 to 3 in Renfrew, Ontario.
The tournament is organized by Renfrew Timberwolves GM and coach Ryan Leonard, the former coach and general manager of the Cochrane Crunch. The six team event involves three clubs from the CCHL and three from the NOJHL including the Voodoos, Blind River Beavers and Espanola Paper Kings, with the other three clubs from the CCHL including the Carleton Place Canadians, Nepean Raiders and the host Renfrew Timberwolves.
“The Wolves are excited to be able to host the Voodoos once again,” said Leonard.
“We have long time hockey friends with in the organization from the ownership group to the GM.
“It’s great when we can get leagues together and compete and get a little variety of teams from other leagues to start off the season.
“The Voodoos have always been a respectable opponent to anyone in junior hockey and we look forward to playing them.”
The opening game may be sentimental for Voodoos coach Peter Goulet, who will be coaching against the Nepean Raiders, a team he won a league championship with in 2012.
“I’ve never played against a team I’ve coached before,” admitted the veteran Voodoos head coach.
“We get to play three teams from the CCHL and I look forward to it. It is a good challenge for us and it is good competition.”
The Voodoos open the 2023-24 season on Friday, September 8 as they host the French River Rapids.
