Photos: VOODOOSHOCKEY.com
POWASSAN, Ont. – A Nolan Newton marker in the final round of the shootout was the difference Saturday as the Greater Sudbury Cubs pulled out a narrow 4-3 decision over the Powassan Voodoos in a hotly-contested Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at the Powassan Sportsplex.
Striking first, the Cubs clicked via the power play to open the scoring nearly nine minutes into the match-up when Marshall McCharles took a sharp cross-crease feed from Newton and promptly whipped it by Voodoos netminder Daniel Dirracolo.
Tying it in the latter stages of the second stanza, Powassan’s Carson Ricci drew his club even after being teed up in the slot, off a Ryan Patrick pass, prior to ripping it past the blocker of Greater Sudbury’s Noah Metivier.
Coming back to regain the lead before the second intermission, Cubs’ captain Oliver Smith knocked down an up-ice pass from teammate Newton then darted in alone on a breakaway before neatly picking the bottom-left corner with a couple of minutes to play in the session.
An early third period equalizer saw the hosts draw level 36 seconds in when a scrambled play behind the net saw the puck find its way in front where Cameron Lemcke hammered it by Metivier.
The guests had an answer for that however, seven minutes later, when McCharles banged in his second of the night after jamming in a Cameron Shanks effort from in close.
Continuing to trade goals, Powassan made it 3-3 with just over six minutes remaining in regulation as Darby McCarthy chipped in his initial NOJHL marker, while battling in front.
Heading to extra time, plenty of drama was involved that included Metivier thwarting Voodoos’ captain Alex Little on a penalty shot, then seeing Dirracolo do his part sharply handling a pair of late Cubs’ point-blank chances.
In the shootout, Tucker Shields of Powassan and Greater Sudbury’s Hudson Chitaroni traded impressive tallies before Newton secured the road victory for the guests with a couple of quick head fakes, then wiring the decider into right hand corner to end it.
The outcome sees the Cubs improve to 4-0 on the season while the Voodoos dipped to 2-0-0-1.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
