Voodoos retake series lead vs. Gold Miners

Cjhl

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Voodoos retake series lead vs. Gold Miners

POWASSAN – The Powassan Voodoos took off early, striking for four first period goals, en route to a 6-2 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Tuesday evening in Game 3 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at the Powassan Sportsplex.

With the win, Powassan now leads the best-of-seven affair 2-1 heading into Game 4 Wednesday back in Powassan at 7 p.m.

It was all Voodoos in the opening 20 minutes as they struck for the four tallies and chased Kirkland Lake starter Josh Erickson, who was replaced by Devon Debastos to begin the second period.

After Brendan D’Agostino opened the scoring for the home side 1:24 into the contest, David Sherman made it 2-0 at the five-minute mark.

NOJHL most valuable player and rookie of the year Steve Harland extended the Voodoos cushion midway through the period with a power play marker while Jacob Erwin capped off the offensive onslaught in the frame with his second of the playoffs late in the stanza.

The Gold Miners battled back in the middle session getting goals 48 seconds apart from Ethan Strong, during a man advantage, and one courtesy at even strength from Ryan Aubertin to make it 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Powassan put an end to the Kirkland Lake comeback bid near the eight-minute mark of the third as Nathaniel McLeod put the Voodoos up by three.

Down by three and on the power play, the Gold Miners pulled Debastos with nine minutes remaining in regulation in favour of an extra attacker, but Powassan came right back with a shorthanded, empty net effort with 8:14 to go to round out the scoring.

Nicolas Proulx doled out three assists on the night to aid the Voodoos cause.

Matt Young made 23 saves to record the win for Powassan.

Erickson suffered the loss allowing four on 12 shots with Debastos giving up one on 10 attempts in relief.

East Semifinal 1
No. 1 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners vs. No. 4 Powassan Voodoos
Voodoos lead best-of-seven 2-1
Game 1: Powassan 6 Kirkland Lake 3
Game 2: Kirkland Lake 4 Powassan 2
Game 3: Powassan 6 Kirkland Lake 2
Game 4: Wednesday, March 18 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Sportsplex)
Game 5: Friday, March 20 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 22 @ Powassan 7:30 p.m. (Sportsplex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, March 24 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)