SUDBURY, Ont. – A Giordano Biondi goal with 66 seconds remaining in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Rayside-Balfour Canadians went on to edge the Powassan Voodoos 3-2 Wednesday afternoon in Day 2 action at the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
With the result, the Voodoos suffer their first regulation setback on the season as their record slipped to 9-1-1-0 while the Canadians improved to 7-5-1-1.
Powassan opened the scoring two and a half minutes into the contest thanks to Brett Shawana’s third tally of the campaign.
Rayside-Balfour tied it late in the first period as Brandon Atkins also collected his third as he notched the equalizer with 14 seconds left in the session.
The Voodoos regained the lead early in the second to go back on top when Matthew Hardwick knocked in his fourth at 2:37.
Going to the power play, the Canadians tied it for a second time six minutes later as Benjamin Hatanaka picked up his third goal and fifth point of the Showcase.
They then picked up the decider off the stick of Biondi, who picked up his team-leading seventh marker in what would be the day’s final offensive effort.
Shots on goal favoured the Canadians by a 36-26 margin with Jean-Marc Brisson registering the win while Christian Cicigoi suffered the loss.
Photos by Chris Dawson