Voodoos defender Dylan Rousselle /
‘This young man has found his game at the junior level and is absolutely amazing for our team’
– There’s exciting hockey being played just 20 minutes south of North Bay on Highway 11.
The Powassan Voodoos have had a resurgent season in the NOJHL, one in which they have flown to the top third of the league’s standings, and a major part is the contributions of their young guns, such as Dylan Rousselle.
The young defender has played in the league before with affiliate stints on the Blind River Beavers and Soo Thunderbirds, but has found a home on the blueline at the Powassan Sportsplex.
“It’s been great, and I really like it here,” explained the young defender. “Great teammates, and my success has been based on how well our team has been doing and how the boys have been helping out.”
Hailing from Algoma Mills, Rousselle played AAA hockey for the Soo Greyhounds U18 team last season, recording 43 points in 32 games. Those totals caught the eye of Voodoos general manager Chris Dawson, who doubles as the play-by-play commentator for the North Bay U16 Trappers who play in the same AAA circuit as the U18 Greyhounds.
“It’s really great to see something in a player and then see it play out in junior,” said Dawson. “He really wowed me with his footwork and his puck skills. Credit to Marcus Krats for doing a fantastic job mentoring him, along with help from our great coaching staff.”
Head coach Peter Goulet is also complimentary of Dawson and impressed by what he has seen from Rousselle so far.
“I still remember the day when Chris Dawson called me in the second half of the 2024/25 season, he said ‘Peter, you have to come watch this defenceman for the Soo Greyhounds U-18 AAA team.’ Chris’s exact words were this young man is absolutely electric. He completely controls the game at the U-18 AAA level.
“I remember watching him play in his first game at the Powassan Arena. My exact words to myself were ‘This young man reminds me of a defenceman that I coached with the Nepean Raiders Jr A hockey team.’ That young man’s name was Ryan Johnston. I was like ‘wow Chris found another Ryan Johnston.’”
Being compared to an NHL-calibre defenceman at 17 is certainly a feather in one’s cap. Johnston helped Goulet and the Nepean Raiders to a Bogart Cup championship in 2012 with an MVP performance. He then parlayed that into a scholarship at Colgate University before beginning a pro career, including games with the Montreal Canadiens, Dylan’s favourite team.
There’s a quote out there in the hockey world that there are no rookies after December. When it comes to Rousselle, his stats back up that quote. Since the calendar flipped to December, the defender has scored 9 goals and added 8 assists for 17 points across 14 games. In that time, the Voodoos are 10-3-1-0, picking up substantial ground in the standings.
“Everybody kind of gelled together, and everybody is helping out,” Rousselle said of his performance and the team’s. “Every team competes hard every night and we have to bring our best game every night to succeed. It’s a very competitive and well-coached league, and I have been liking it a lot.”
“Dylan has definitely held up his end of the bargain,” added Goulet. “He had a bit of a slow start offensively, but this young man has found his game at the junior level and is absolutely amazing for our team.
“I guarantee you he is only going to get better every game and every season.”
Rousselle has also rocketed up the rookie scoring board in the NOJHL as well. He sits seventh and is one of three Powassan Voodoos in the top 10 along with fellow defender Braeden Begley and Battalion prospect Jax Pereira who has been named the NOJHL rookie of the month for January. .
With the rookie point getters and skilled veterans such as Ryan Saginaw, Caleb Dawson, Justin Rousseau, and Marcus Krats guiding the ship, Rousselle says there is one goal in the locker room.
“We’re definitely starting to pick it up now, and we’re looking to go deep and win a championship.”
