KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A Tomas Yachmenev goal with 39 seconds remaining in regulation helped the Powassan Voodoos fend off a furious comeback by the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and help them pull out an eventual 6-4 victory Saturday in an entertaining Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Saturday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
After a scoreless first frame, Powassan opened the scoring at 8:50 of the second on Henry Scott’s initial league marker.
Alex Elie would tie it for Kirkland Lake just over four minutes later as he finished off the work of Jaren DeBolt and Noah Cauchi for his first NOJHL goal.
However, the Voodoos regained the lead before the middle stanza was complete thanks to a power play tally courtesy of Gabinen Kioki, who too joined the opening league tally club.
Powassan came out quickly in the third to extend their cushion as Kioki and Matt Hardwick struck 25 seconds apart before the period was two minutes old.
Countering quickly, the Gold Miners’ Gregory Trudeau-Paquet brought the home side to within two at 2:29 to make it a 4-2 game.
It was more Kirkland Lake from there as they made it 4-3 with 11 and a half minutes remaining thanks to Max Newnam’s marker during a man advantage as he notched his first with the club.
The impressive rally continued as Trudeau-Paquet picked up his second of the night with 5:45 to go to knot the affair at 4-4.
However, the Voodoos regrouped by and picked up the game-winner late as Joe Whittet snagged a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated into Gold Miners’ territory where he sent a pass over to Tomas Yachmenev at the left face-off dot where he wired one high short side on netminder Parker Swanson.
Cade Herd then iced it with a long-range empty netter to secure the win.
David Campbell had two assists for Powassan while Joshua Maine did likewise for Kirkland Lake.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Gold Miners by a 41-34 count with Joe Vrbetic picking up the win in his NOJHL debut while Swanson suffered the narrow setback for the Gold Miners.
Photos courtesy of CapturingTheMoment.ca
