Champagne strikes twice as Voodoos edge Rapids

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2015

Champagne strikes twice as Voodoos edge Rapids

NOELVILLE, Ont. – Eric Champagne scored his team’s final two goals to help the Powassan Voodoos edge the French River Rapids 6-5 Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Noelville Arena.

Making their NOJHL debut, French River got their first tally in team history just over a minute into the contest as Ian Robbie dazzled the partisan crowd in Noelville.

The lead was short lived however as Nathaniel McLeod notched the equalizer just 30 seconds later.

It stayed that way until the first shift of the second period when last season’s rookie of the year, top scorer and most valuable player Steve Harland ripped in his opening marker of 2015-16.

Chris Atanas tied it again for the Rapids at 3:24 to knot the score at 2-2.

Powassan powered their way back in front nine minutes in the frame on a shorthanded effort supplied by Daniel Walker.

Undaunted, French River battled back to level the proceedings yet again as a Caleb Rich effort midway through the contest made it 3-3.

Two late markers from the Voodoos would put them up a pair entering the third as Tyler Peters and Champagne both found the back of the net in the final minute of the second.

Continuing to show resiliency, the Rapids roared back to tie it on goals by Brendan Kelly and Rich.

However, Champagne would put Powassan back in front for good at 13:39 of the third to round out the night’s scoring.

Jake Staples had two assists for the Voodoos in the win on a night the visitors outshot the home side 57-25.

Picking up the victory was Mario Cavaliere while Alec St. George was solid in defeat with his 51-save performance.