POWASSAN, Ont. – The Powassan Voodoos picked up a hat trick from Harrison Israels to help power his team to a 7-3 victory over the Timmins Rock Monday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at the Powassan Sportsplex.
An early power play helped Timmins get going offensively in this one as Alexandre Brisson beat Voodoos’ starter Christian Cicigoi three and a half minutes into the contest.
Powassan came back with the equalizer at 12:29 of the first period thanks to Israels’ eighth tally of the campaign.
A fast-paced middle stanza saw the two clubs combine for five tallies in just under 10 and a half minutes, including three by the home side, as they took a 4-3 cushion into the third.
Tomas Yachmenev started the offensive outburst for the Voodoos at 1:34 before the Rock struck twice in a 46-second span to first tie it then go back on top as James Richmond, during a two-man advantage, and Evan Kentish-Stack, with Timmins still up a skater, both picked up their initial NOJHL markers.
Battling back again Powassan drew level once more off the stick of Kobe Desmond at 6:25 before a Dayton Murray blast accounted for his co-league-best 12th overall at 12:07.
Israels added one more in the final frame with under seven minutes remaining before picking up a shorthanded, empty net effort late to secure his first NOJHL hat trick and his fourth multi-goal performance of the season.
Yachmenev then added another man-short, empty netter with 32 seconds to go to go along with two earlier assists as the rookie finished off a four-point night.
Cicigoi finished with 30 stops as he won his sixth straight start while improving to 8-1 on the season.
Brendan Bishop started for Timmins and allowed four against on nine attempts and suffered the loss before giving way to Eric Jackson after the Murray marker.
Jackson handled 10 of 11 in relief.
