The Powassan Voodoos are hoping for another great season, but this time without the playoff disappointment.
As with many years in junior hockey, the Voodoos will have a new look on and off the ice as the NOJHL squad prepares for its home opener this Saturday, September 19, as they host the Blind River Beavers at the Powassan Sportsplex.
On the ice, the Voodoos see all-stars Marcus Krats, Derrick Champagne and hardworking captain Justin Rousseau gone to graduation, while superstar rookie Jax Pereira will spend the new season with the North Bay Battalion.
A new look behind the bench sees the head coaching reins turn over to Ty Pracek, who takes over from 2025-26 Coach of the Year Peter Goulet, who has moved to the Brantford Bulldogs staff in the Ontario Hockey League.
No stranger to the NOJHL with previous coaching stints, Pracek takes over a team that has won 161 games over the course of the past five seasons.
Much will be expected to be the same with the club, built under the leadership of long-time general manager Chris Dawson, a Day 1 member of the organization.
While there is change, some returners should play key roles in the success of the Voodoos, who won their only NOJHL title 10 years ago.
Up front, Caleb Dawson returns after an impressive 26-goal, 61-point campaign and is poised to break some franchise records this season.
“Caleb is entering his fourth full season with the Voodoos,” offered Pracek. “A proven offensive threat with a well-rounded game, Caleb can have a breakout year,” said Pracek.
“He is a veteran of the league and is proving that early on with his high work ethic, hockey IQ, overall presence and leadership qualities.”
Other veteran returning forwards include former Trappers Anthony Boyes, Jesse Lefebvre, Tyler Brunet and Owen Head.
“Owen is entering his second season with the Voodoos,” Pracek stated.
“After having a strong rookie year and developing an overall game, Owen has the tools to have a breakout year offensively. He has high potential to be a dominant player this season, and we know he has only scratched the surface of his capabilities.”
On the back end, the team will rely heavily on NOJHL rookie all-star Braeden Begley.
“Begley just returned from Barrie Colts training camp,” said Chris Dawson, Voodoos GM.
“He’s a solid two-way defender who brings physicality in the defensive zone but also has the skill to play on our top power play. He is respected by his teammates and is a leader on and off the ice.”
Dawson and the Voodoos hockey operations team also used the trade route to upgrade the offence. Back in July, the Voodoos nabbed NOJHL Rookie of the Year Owen Smith for a development fee from the Espanola Paper Kings, and last week the Voodoos re-acquired forward Caden Dubreuil from the Rockland Nationals of the CCHL for a development fee.
“We acquired the reigning NOJHL Rookie of the Year this off-season from Espanola,” says Pracek.
“We are thrilled to have him join the Voodoos. For a young player, Owen’s level of detail and IQ of the game is very high. He absolutely has the talent to be one of the top offensive players in the league this season. Owen has also shown a lot of maturity early on, supporting many first-year players and helping develop a great culture with the team.”
Caden Dubreuil, who attended North Bay Battalion training camp in 2024, is excited to be back to Powassan after winning the NOJHL crown last year with the now-defunct Greater Sudbury Cubs.
“I get to end my junior career with the team I started with. This is a strong team, and I’m glad I get to be a part of it and work towards a championship season.”
Chris Dawson says he is thrilled to re-acquire the Sudbury area forward, a player the Voodoos moved to the Cubs almost a year ago today.
“Caden has developed into one of the best two-way forwards in Jr A hockey,” said Dawson.
“His style of play will fit in tremendously with the way our new coach Ty Pracek has our group playing.”
Rookie impacts
A handful of North Bay area players are hoping to make an impact with the Voodoos in 2026-27.
Forward Aidan Duchesne has raised some eyebrows in camp playing alongside Owen Smith and Caleb Dawson, where the trio combined for 19 points in two pre-season games playing together.
“Aidan joins the team from the North Bay U16 AAA Trappers,” Dawson said.
“The forward was a 14th-round pick by his hometown Battalion in the 2026 OHL Draft. Duchesne is a very crafty forward who reminds me of former Voodoos and Battalion star Steve Harland. He sees the ice very well and has excelled playing against older competition as an underage player for many of his minor hockey years.”
Powassan’s Scott Szczygiel is another promising player coming from the North Bay AAA Trappers program.
“He captained the North Bay U18 AAA Trappers to a Great North League championship in 2025-26,” supplied the Voodoos GM.
“Szczygiel was an exceptional two-way forward for Josh Dale’s U18 Trappers last season. He brings offence, great work ethic and has the ability to score timely goals.”
Photo courtesy Tom Martineau: Voodoos celebrate a first period goal against the Elliot Lake Vikings at the WFCU Place in North Bay on September 2.
