SUDBURY, Ont. – The Powassan Voodoos used the strength of a four-goal third period to break open a tie game and help them skate to a 7-3 victory over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason contest held Friday evening at Gerry McCrory Countryside Arena.
The Voodoos opened the scoring 55 seconds into the match-up thanks to Kaleb McHugh.
Being awarded a penalty shot a couple minutes later, the Canadians had a chance to tie it, but Zach Giroux was stymied on his chance.
They did collect the equalizer at 7:36 though as Oliver Smith connected on the power play.
Powassan came back to take a 2-1 cushion after 20 minutes as Gabinen Kioki connected on a late man advantage.
Up a skater quickly in the middle stanza as well, Gregory Trudeau-Paquet put the guests up by a pair.
Answering back, Rayside-Balfour got goals from Giroux and Aiden Desforges, who converted while his club was shorthanded, to tie it at 3-3 through two periods of play.
The third was all Powassan though as they struck three times before the final session was half way complete to take control as Parker Bowman, Dylan Gajewski and Trudeau-Paquet all found the back of the net for the visitors in rapid succession.
They then capped off their outburst on Kioki’s second of the night to round out the scoring.
Owen Say picked up the win with 30 minutes of relief for the Voodoos making eight stops on nine attempts while starter Luke Greenwood handled 11 of the 13 shots fired his way.
RBC’s David Bowen got the nod to begin the contest for the Canadians and finished with 23 saves on 26 chances while Nicholas Heinzle turned aside 12 of 16 in defeat.
