Photos: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – After tying it in the late going, the Powassan Voodoos completed the comeback by defeating the French River 4-3 in overtime in a penalty-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason contest Saturday at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The Voodoos pressed the pace early on, but they could not beat Rapids’ netminder Nicholas Tarantella.
Buoyed by that, French River countered and scored first when Hunter Vilanez started a rush into the Powassan zone and saw the play find its way back to him where he roofed a shot from the left of goaltender Tyson Wilcox.
Striking shorthanded in the opening moments of the middle stanza, Caleb Dawson found himself behind the Rapids’ defence and was sent in alone on a breakaway and promptly wired a shot by the blocker of Tarentella.
Powassan then went in front off another break as Nathan Pelletier darted in by himself and made no mistake on his attempt.
On an extended power play deep in the period, French River drew level when Alex Dubuc slammed in a rebound from the right circle on Miles Gordon, who had entered the proceedings midway through the match-up, as did Rapids’ back-up Carter Vicente.
Still on the man advantage, the visitors made it 3-2 thanks to Jack Wilson, who muscled his way in close and stuffed in the go-ahead tally.
Tying it on the power play with just over two minutes left in regulation, the Voodoos’ Dawson Coleman wired the equalizer into the top left corner after moving in from the point.
Moving to OT, Pelletier had a great chance to win it for Powassan on a shorthanded penalty shot, but despite a nice move, his chance slipped through the legs of Vicente, but slid wide.
The Voodoos eventually prevailed however with newcomer Jeremy Schoenborn ripping in the game-winner from between the circles, with bodies battling in front, to finish things off.
Up next for both clubs will be the opening of their respective regular seasons against the Timmins Rock, as the Voodoos host them on Friday, while the Rapids will do likewise Saturday in a pair of 7 p.m. starts.
