POWASSAN VOODOOS JR. A HOCKEY
Media Update
Release date: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014
Voodoos goalie suits up for Team Sweden
KINGSTON — His last name is Ondrovic. He was born and raised in Nepean, Ontario and plays goal for the Powassan Voodoos.
But regardless of his nationality, Jack Ondrovic was an emergency recruit for Team Sweden on Tuesday and dressed as the backup as Team Sweden dropped a 10-5 decision to Team USA in World Junior exhibition play in Kingston Tuesday night.
The Swedish National team, which was practicing at the Bell Sensplex in Ottawa, lost a pair of their goaltenders Jonas Johansson and Linus Soderstrom, to injury and got Ondrovic and another Ottawa area junior goaltender to practice with the team on Tuesday morning.
It was after practice where the coaching staff asked Jack if he could pack his Voodoos goalie bag and travel with Team Sweden for their exhibition game against Team USA and dress as their backup.
Ondrovic, a 2014 6th round pick of the North Bay Battalion, immediately called Voodoos GM Chris Dawson to see if he could get approval to dress.
“I wasn’t sure what he was asking at first,” said Dawson.
“First thing I told him was yes, but wanted to clarify with the NOHA and the NOJHL first,” he said.
“What an incredible opportunity for the young man, we as an organization are so thrilled for him to experience the chance go play on a national team even if it was just for one day.”
Ondrovic took warmups, watched the game on the bench and even took in the post game team meeting before he packed up his gear to head back home to Nepean.
“It was amazing, I had a great time,” said Ondrovic after the game.
“The pace is quick, there are a lot of guys that just make you stand back and say ‘wow that was really fast,”’ he added.
“It’s quite a jump from playing in the NOJHL to playing with the Swedish national team.”
Ironically, unusual goaltending dilemma’s have haunted Ondrovic of late. Last week the Powassan Voodoos were forced to dress two affiliate goaltenders for their final game before the Christmas break in Kirkland Lake.
With goalie Matt Young out with a groin injury and Ondrovic forced to miss the game due to a high fever, the Voodoos dressed both Midget AAA Trappers affiliates in Brendan Dale and Colton Point in a 9-2 loss.
