TIMMINS, Ont. – A Tyler Gilberds goal 15:32 into the first overtime saw the Timmins Rock complete a stunning upset of the top ranked Powassan Voodoos by winning Game 6 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal 2-1 in front of 1,568 delirious fans at McIntyre Arena.
The surprising Rock capture the best-of-seven series 4-2 and will now meet the Cochrane Crunch in the East Final that will begin in the coming days.
After finishing 50 points behind league-leading Powassan in the regular season standings, it was Timmins who stole the show in the series getting key contributions from the likes of veteran forwards Derek Sequin and Wayne Mathieu along with some stellar netminding courtesy of goalkeeper Tyler Masternak.
Sunday’s match-up saw Riley Robitaille give the Rock the lead 12:42 into the game as they carried that cushion through the remainder of the first period as well as through a scoreless middle session.
Powassan would force extra time with 4:49 remaining in regulation on an Aaron Dickson marker.
Moving on to OT it was Gilberds who was the hero for the Rock as he beat Voodoos’ netminder Christian Cicigoi to put a surprising end to the series against heavily favoured Powassan.
Masternak made 42 saves to post the all-important win in net for Timmins.
Cicigoi had 40 stops in the season-ending setback for last year’s NOJHL champions.
NOJHL Playoffs
Series C
East Division semifinal
No. 1 Powassan Voodoos vs. No. 5 Timmins Rock
Timmins wins best-of-seven series 4-2
Game 1: Powassan 5 Timmins 2
Game 2: Timmins 5 Powassan 2
Game 3: Timmins 2 Powassan 1
Game 4: Timmins 6 Powassan 3
Game 5: Powassan 6 Timmins 1
Game 6: Timmins 2 Powassan 1 (OT)
Photos courtesy of Thomas Perry, The Daily Press (Timmins)