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Powassan wasted little time getting the monkey off their backs just five minutes into the game as forward Kyle Moore jumped all over a Mattawa turnover and fired home his first goal of the season and the first goal at home in franchise history.
“It’s amazing to be the guy who scores it,” said Moore, who is a North Bay Battalion 2014 5th round draft pick.
“To see the crowd go crazy was unbelievable. I wanted to celebrate but totally forgot. It’s definitely one of the best feelings to get this first win out of the way.”
It didn’t take long for The Voodoos to increase the lead as Moore notched his second goal on a beautiful breakaway move with Defenceman Josh Ibbitson drawing the assist. The back end for Powassan chipped in once again with Defenceman Jeremy St. Pierre adding a late first period marker following a coast-to-coast effort by Forward Steven Harland to set up the goal.
After multiple power play opportunities for both teams in the second, the ice seemed to shift in favour of the Blackhawks. Some aggressive play by Mattawa resulted in a flurry of chances on the Powassan goal. However, Battalion Prospect Jack Ondrovic stood tall between the pipes thwarting off each and every Blackhawks’ opportunity.
The Voodoos looked to be running away until late in the second period when Blackhawks’ Assistant Captain Christian Sgroi managed to find Forward Jimmy Philbin in the slot to make it a 3-1 game with only 49 seconds left in the second frame.
Powassan found themselves in a bit of penalty trouble early in the third but after killing off a full 2 minutes of 5-on-3, Voodoos’ Captain Aaron Sullivan converted a 2-on-1 opportunity to increase the lead to 4-1; Sullivan’s first goal of the season.
The Voodoos never looked back as they outshot Mattawa 28-17 and added two more goals en route to a 6-2 victory.
Newly signed Goaltender Jack Ondrovic was named second star in his debut; turning aside 15 of the 17 shots he faced.
Forward Steven Harland added a goal and an assist in the win, while Nathan McLeod notched his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Powassan’s next game is on September 19th, when they travel to the Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Thunderbirds.
