Photos: VOODOOSHOCKEY.COM
POWASSAN, Ont. – Tucker Shields notched a pair of markers, while netminder Daniel Dirracolo handled every shot he faced to help send the Powassan Voodoos on their way to a 5-0 shutout over the French River Rapids Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The Voodoos took flight in this one off an odd-man rush that saw Alex Little put a pass on the tape of rookie Caleb Dawson who darted into the right face-off circle and proceeded to rip a shot past Rapids netminder Bray Dyer for his first NOJHL goal at 3:27.
Powassan came right back and tacked on another on the next shift with Tucker Shields collecting the rebound off a Little attempt from the left point that hit off the shoulder of Dyer that was quickly stuffed in from close range.
Taking their two-tally cushion into the middle stanza, the home side went up by three after 40 minutes thanks to Reyth Smith’s initial league marker at 17:38 as he found himself free in front and snapped in his glove-side chance to extend the host’s lead.
Moving to the third, the Voodoos put the game away with a power play marker that was credited to Shields, who was among two players whacking away at rebound off a Little left-point shot, that saw the club’s captain collect his third point of the night.
Little then capped off his impressive performance by striking on the power play half way through the session to cap off the home win in their 2023-24 season debut by pinching in and patiently picking his spot in the back of the net.
Each team’s next game will be versus the Blind River Beavers as the Rapids head there Sunday afternoon while the Voodoos welcome them to the Sportsplex next Friday night.
