GALLERY: Powassan hands Timmins 1st regulation loss

TIMMINS, Ont. – A Jacob McLellan marker with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation lifted the Powassan Voodoos to a 4-3 victory over the Timmins Rock Sunday afternoon in a well-played Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at McIntyre Arena.

It took the visiting Voodoos just 76 seconds to open the scoring as Caleb Van de Ven skated along the blueline then cut into the Timmins zone on the right side where he fired a low shot that was deflected in by Alexander Bradshaw parked in front of the net.

Timmins came back to tie it nearly 15 minutes into the first frame when Bode Dunford wheeled out of the corner and put a high attempt on Powassan starter Alex Bugeja that was initially stopped, but Tyler Gilberds was right there to bang in the equalizer, off the rebound.

In the second stanza the Voodoos went back on top as Rodion Tatarenko forced a turnover just inside his own zone then snagged the puck and darted down the left wing on a breakaway before making a couple of quick moves and cutting to his right where he lifted a nifty backhand into the top of the net over the pad of a sprawling Rock netminder Gavin McCarthy.

Going to the power play a couple of shifts later, the guests made it 3-1 as Alex Little let a shot go towards the net from the point that was knocked ahead by the skate of Jackson Buffam, who in turn collected the loose puck and buried one from the top of the crease.

Down a pair entering the third period, Timmins cut into the deficit six minutes in during a man advantage with some crisp puck movement that was completed with Tyler Patterson neatly tipping in a low Riley Brousseau shot from the left point.

Continuing to press, the Rock notched the equalizer at 8:25 when Riley Dubois batted down a clearing attempt and got it over to captain Tyler Schwindt, who was stopped on his first chance, but quickly stuffed in the second to knot the affair at 3-3.

Regrouping, Powassan retook the lead as Van be Ven spun in the corner a fed McLellan for a one-timer in the slot that partially clipped off a Timmins defender and skipped into the net.

The home side looked to draw level in the late, going with their goaltender out for an extra attacker, but the Voodoos held firm to secure the road decision and cap off a three-game road swing by going 2-0-1-0.

With the outcome, Powassan hands Timmins their first loss in regulation so far this season as they improved to 9-2-2-1 overall.

In defeat the Rock slip to 10-1-1-0 on the campaign.

Shots on goal favoured Timmins by a 38-24 margin with Bugeja getting the win while McCarthy suffered the setback.


Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – 
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network