Photo of new defenceman Jackson Smith who made his Voodoos debut in a 9-2 win over the French River Rapids last Friday.
Photo: Voodooshockey.com
The Powassan Voodoos have added a familiar face and a new goaltender as part of a busy last few days for the organization prior to the CJHL trade deadline at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10.
Big defenceman Mike MacLean was returned to the Voodoos from the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL.
The 6’5” defender started the season with the Voodoos this fall before being scooped up by Gatineau in November.
MacLean had 3 assists in 16 games with the Olympiques. The big defender joined the Voodoos last season after a trade with the OJHL’s Cobourg Cougars.
“Mike is a huge pickup for us,” said Peter Goulet, Voodoos head coach.
“Any time you get someone who is known to us, he has battled with us and that is a bonus for any team.”
With departure of goaltender Mike McIvor up full time with the North Bay Battalion, Goulet elected to bring in 18-year-old netminder Patrick Charette in a trade with the Rockland Nationals of the CCHL.
Charette, a Montreal product, got into 11 games with the Nationals where he registered a 3.09 goals against and a .887 save percentage.
“He became available and he is coming in to push our guys and make our team better,” said Goulet.
“I have heard a lot of great things about him, and we’ve already heard about him stealing games this season in the CCHL.”
Prior to the deadline the Voodoos also welcomed free agent defenceman Jackson Smith.
The 19-year-old Calgary product was playing for the Colorado Grit of the NAHL and started the season with the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Goulet says a holiday conversation between the Smith family and former Voodoos all-star defender Mitch Wilkie’s family in Calgary got process going.
“Relationships are so important and this is why you treat people right, you help people out and you do the best for them,” said Goulet.
“Jackson and his dad liked what they heard about our program. He is a huge addition and a heck of a defenceman and he fits right into our room.”
The Voodoos also made a trio of other moves transferring defenceman Tyson Rismond to the Haliburton County Huskies of the OJHL forward Darby McCarthy to the Soo Eagles, and returned defenceman Braeden Vis to back to the Elliot Lake Vikings for development fees.
