GALLERY: Gold Miners edge Voodoos in shootout

Photos – Allyson Demers

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – John-Paul Scaringi collected the lone goal in the shootout to help the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners edge the Powassan Voodoos 6-5 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Wednesday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

The Gold Miners also came out quickly and grabbed a 2-0 lead before the contest was eight minutes old.

Niklas Albrecht got the first one, at 4:23 of the first frame, as he collected his team-leading seventh of the season as he also extended a consecutive game point streak to six in succession.

Lucas Renzoni then potted his second a few shifts later to add to the home side’s edge.

Powassan came right back though as Justin Spurrell put the visitors on the board at 8:56.

Converting midway through the session, Andronique Stephanian put Kirkland Lake back up by a pair before the Voodoos’ affiliate player Will Bourre bagged his initial NOJHL tally to make it 3-2 after one.

On the power play to begin the middle stanza, Powassan’s Jacob McLellan clicked on the man advantage 63 seconds in with help from Caleb Van de Ven to level the proceedings.

Picking up a late man advantage, Gold Miners would take a 4-3 lead into the intermission when Eric de Repentigny notched his initial league effort off a set-up from Chance DeBolt.

In the third, special teams helped the Voodoos draw level once again thanks to Ben White scoring on the power play at 3:13.

The back and forth affair saw Kirkland Lake go ahead once more with Christian Genova striking with 11:03 remaining in regulation.

Battling back, Powassan forced overtime when McLellan picked up his second of the night with just over five minutes left.

After a scoreless OT, extra shots were needed to determine a winner.

There Scaringi was the only one to convert in eight shootout chances to give the Gold Miners the victory.

Spencer Jones dished out two assists for the Miners to aid their cause.

Kirkland Lake’s Glen Crandall made 47 stops in 65 minutes of work and handled all four attempts in the shootout.

Owen Wray started for Powassan and suffered the setback allowing four in nearly 46 minutes of action while Alex Bugeja stopped 10 of 11 in relief.