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Voodoos know its Crunch time as NOJHL East Final Schedule Released

Voodoos forward Jake Staples celebrates his late game 4 winner against the Gold Miners in Powassan. Staples, named one of the NOJHL's 3-Stars last week, will try and lead the Voodoos to another series victory against the Cochrane Crunch.

Voodoos forward Jake Staples celebrates his late game 4 winner against the Gold Miners in Powassan.  Staples, named one of the NOJHL's 3-Stars last week, will try and lead the Voodoos to another series victory against the Cochrane Crunch.  PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Monday the schedule has been finalized for the upcoming East Division final between the Cochrane Crunch and Powassan Voodoos.

Cochrane, as the higher seed in this best-of-seven series, will have home ice for games one and two and, if necessary games five and seven.

The Powassan Sportsplex will be the site for games three and four and should it be required, game six.

The series will get underway Friday evening in Cochrane and will feature an 8 p.m. start.

Game 2 goes Saturday, also at 8 p.m., at the Tim Horton Event Centre.

The series will then shift to the Sportsplex in Powassan for the next two contests of the series, which will be played Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1 and will have a 7:30 p.m. face-off.

The Crunch would host Game 5, if necessary, on Friday, April 3 while Powassan would be the home side on Sunday, April 5 for a Game 6, if it is required. Both of those match-ups would commence at 7:30 p.m.

Should the series go the distance, Game 7 is slated for Tuesday, April 7 in Cochrane at 7:30 p.m.

East Division final
No. 2 Cochrane Crunch vs. No. 4 Powassan Voodoos
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, March 27 @ Cochrane 8 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
Game 2: Saturday, March 28 @ Cochrane 8 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 31 @ Powassan 7:30 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 4: Wednesday, April 1 @ Powassan 7:30 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 5*: Friday, April 3 @ Cochrane 7:30 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
Game 6*: Sunday, April 5 @ Powassan 7:30 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 7 @ Cochrane 7:30 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
*-if necessary

Staples named League Star

Voodoos Jake Staples was recognized by the NOJHL for his incredible playoff contribution as he was named one of the NOJHL 3-Stars of the Week.   

Aiding in Powassan’s offensive efforts in their upset of the defending NOJHL champion Kirkland Lake Gold Miners was the Voodoos’ Staples.

He scored twice in each of the last three games of the series, which included a game-winner, and also picked up a pair of assists.

The 19-year-old native of Callander, Ont., enters the East Division final vs. the Cochrane Crunch tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 13 points in total.

Staples’ nine goals to date in the postseason is presently the second most among all NOJHL skaters.