ESPANOLA, Ont. – Riding a four-point performance from Caleb Dawson, which included a trio of tallies, the Powassan Voodoos went on to defeat the Espanola Paper Kings 6-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Sunday at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Converting on the day’s initial power play, Dawson put the visitors in front at 6:11 when he blasted in a one-timer from the right circle that flew past Espanola netminder Cameron Millar, after being teed up from up top by Braeden Begley.
Regrouping, the Paper Kings countered with a pair of markers to take a 2-1 lead.
Tying it two and a half minutes later, Sam Piette motored down the left wing with speed off a quick breakout and put a pass over to Carter Trudell, who wired an attempt past the glove of goalkeeper Logan Coates, who was making his Voodoos’ debut.
They then saw Chase Cybulskie collect his initial NOJHL tally as he got enough of the puck in close to squeak it across the goal line.
Pulling even before the first intermission, Powassan’s Aidan Duchesne was left with a tap in after Millar could not quite contain a Caden Dubreuil shot.
Action in the second stanza saw Liam Roe-Kozorovitsky head man a pass that sent Dawson in alone on a breakaway and saw him make no mistake by ripping in his second of the contest.
The guests then added to their cushion as defenceman Aydin Beharie popped in first NOJHL marker as he came through the back door off a faceoff and steered in a cross-ice Alexandre Saulnier feed into the open corner.
With the assist, Saulnier now has points in six games in a row.
Wasting little time in going up by three in final frame, Powassan moved out of their own end with pace, which led to Devran Brown lifting in a rising backhand over the shoulder of Millar, just 15 seconds in.
Pulling back to within two on a man advantage, Carter Drigo took a set-up from Zachary Grahn and promptly pumped it past Coates with 11:05 to go.
Helping put it away, Dawson registered his first NOJHL hat trick as he got the last touch off a puck put to the net by Duchesne to help secure the road victory.
With the result, the Voodoos improve to 8-3-1-1 while in defeat, the Paper Kings falls to 5-9-0-0.
