Photos: Justin Cairns
NOTE: After a formal protest by the Powassan Voodoos on the OT goal by the Soo Eagles in Game 4 of their quarter-final, due to a penalty misinterpretation by the on-ice officials, their appeal was denied by both the NOJHL and the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. In turn, the Eagles officially win the series 4-0 and move on to meet the No. 1 seeded Greater Sudbury Cubs in upcoming semifinal play.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – An Anden Marceau man advantage marker, 8:47 into overtime, lifted the Soo Eagles to a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Powassan Voodoos Wednesday in Game 4 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final at Pullar Stadium.
With the outcome, the Eagles, who finished 26 points behind the Voodoos in the regular season standings, completed a four-game sweep and will now move on to the NOJHL semifinals where they’ll take on the No. 1 seeded Greater Sudbury Cubs.
This also marks the highest point differential overcome in a playoff series since 2017 when the Eagles surprised the rival Soo Thunderbirds in a West Division semifinal after finishing 31 points in arrears of the T-Birds.
It was Powassan who opened the scoring 11:25 into the first period, while skating four aside, when defenceman Dylan Rousselle joined a rush with Ryan Saginaw in the slot and took a pass from him and wired it past Eagles’ netminder Jace Knoerle.
After some sustained pressure by the visitors late in the frame, it was Sault Ste. Marie who broke out of their own zone in transition that led to a two-on-one where Lucas Caulfield sent a feed over to Nolan Nemecek, who guided in the equalizer on goaltender Derrick Champagne.
Following a spirited end to the session, the Eagles went in front early in the second thanks to Logan Stawizynski, who tipped in Micah Seery shot from the right point.
Pulling even while shorthanded, Voodoos’ captain Justin Rousseau swatted in a cross-ice feed from Jax Pereira into the open corner on the Soo’s Jace Knoerle.
After a couple of glorious chances for either side in the final minute of regulation, the clubs headed to OT for a second straight night.
In the fourth period, the Eagles won it on a four-on-three that saw Marceau pump in a rebound in close off a Stawizynski attempt from up top to end it and complete the upset.
NOJHL quarter-final
No. 2 Powassan Voodoos vs. No. 7 Soo Eagles
Game 1: Eagles 7, Voodoos 4
Game 2: Eagles 6, Voodoos 1
Game 3: Eagles 4, Voodoos 3 (2OT)
Game 4: Eagles 3, Voodoos 2 (OT)
Soo wins best-of-seven series 4-0
