Photos: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – A Ryan Patrick blast with 11:19 remaining in regulation, proved to be the game-winner as the Powassan Voodoos went on to slip past the Iroquois Falls Storm 3-2 Saturday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Powassan Sportsplex.
Gaining the early edge, the Voodoos clicked just 14 seconds into the contest, as Reyth Smith put a play towards the net and saw Chase Thompson have a couple of close-range cracks at it before chipping it past Storm starter Brodie Haylock.
The Powassan power play then helped them go ahead by two at 5:33 with Darby McCarthy moving in from the point and ripping a shot from the high slot into the right-hand corner.
Iroquois Falls cut into the deficit in the middle stanza off an impressive rush by Justin McKnight as he wheeled into the Voodoos’ zone and sent a rising attempt over the glove of goalkeeper Tyson Wilcox.
Benefitting from a turnover deep in the Powassan end helped Ben Sherwin sweep an attempt under Wilcox midway through the night to knot the affair at 2-2 after two.
In the third, the Voodoos retook the lead on a delayed penalty as Patrick cranked in a one-timer from between the hash marks.
The Storm got their goalie out in the late going and pressed for an equalizer, but the hosts held firm defensively to secure the home victory.
With the outcome, Powassan moves to 16-9-0-2 on the season and saw the Storm drop to 7-23-0-1 with the narrow defeat.
