88 players hit the ice this past weekend for the biggest ever summer prospect camp for the Powassan Voodoos. July 5,2025 Photo by CHRIS DAWSON
The Powassan Voodoos hosted 88 hopefuls this weekend at their biggest summer prospects camp ever
Greg Estabrooks – North Bay Nugget
Players came from far and wide to try to make a positive impression on the Powassan Voodoos brass.
The Nothern Ontario Junior Hockey League team used the weekend to welcome more than 80 players to their annual prospects camp.
Players came from as far as Pennsylvania and British Columbia to show their stuff on the ice at the Pete Palangio Arena.
Peter Goulet is the Voodoos head coach and says the larger number of players at his camp will all get a good look from his team because a lot of eyeballs will be on them.
“We have ten guys watching each game, with five guys watching each team. There are a lot of guys here getting their first taste of junior hockey and for me it has been a great camp so far,” says Goulet.
Powassan has seven forwards and two defenceman coming back, so spots could be earned and players signed after the weekend. Goulet is looking for the best player he can find, no matter what the position. At the same time, Goulet says when he talks to players during their exit interviews, he doesn’t butter them up.
“I’m looking for a reaction when I tell them stuff. (For example, I ask) Would they be interested in signing as the thirteenth forward, ‘I think you’re a third-line guy, I don’t see you on the power play,’ and I’m looking to see how they react to that,” says the Voodoos head coach.
“They have got to want to be here. I’m not going to chase kids.”
General Manager Chris Dawson says Goulet’s approach is fine with him.
“I know sometimes the kids don’t like to hear what is said and they may leave, but it’s better than beating around the bush and then cutting a kid out of the blue,” says Dawson.
The Voodoos are coming off a down season where they won only two games after Christmas and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Hearst Lumberjacks.
“Hockey is full of ups and downs. There are no excuses for last year. I think everything needs to change. Our attitude on ice must change; our culture needs to change. We all need to pull the rope in the same way,” says Goulet.
Meanwhile, Dawson has never seen a bigger group come out for a summer prospects camp.
“It is flattering to see, and we enjoy it when we see this much interest from kids wanting to play for us,” says Dawson.
Voodoos full training camp begins in late August, and the club will be heading to Collingwood for a preseason tournament.
Powassan opens the regular at home on September 12th versus the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds.
