Battalion prospect David Campbell had a hat trick and Gabby Kioki dished out four assists while goaltender Christian Cicigoi finished with a 54-save performance to help send the Powassan Voodoos to a 5-3 victory over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians Friday in front of 430 fans in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season opener for both sides at the Powassan Sportsplex.
It took just 51 seconds for the Voodoos to notch the opening tally of the 2018-19 season as forward Campbell put one past Rayside-Balfour starting netminder David Bowen.
The visiting Canadians picked up the equalizer however four and a half minutes later though on Christopher Clark’s initial NOJHL marker.
Another Rayside-rookie in Matthew Dokis-Dupuis then struck shorthanded midway through the first period to give the guests the lead.
Countering, Powassan tied it once more thanks to Cade Herd as the two teams hit the intermission knotted at 2-2.
Jack Pendry joined the first-time goal-scorers club for the Canadians 6:23 into the middle stanza only to see Campbell convert on a man advantage opportunity a couple shifts later to make it 3-3 after 40 minutes.
Continuing to go back and forth, the Voodoos regained the lead 2:07 into the third off the stick of Campbell, who celebrated his third of the night in what also turned out to be the game-winner.
Dakotah Woods then supplied some insurance for Powassan with just over five minutes to go in regulation to round out the scoring.
Kioki league debut was impressive as he finished with the four assists on the night with Henry Scott and Ryan Mills chipping in with a pair of helpers to aid the cause.
Second-year Powassan netminder Cicigoi faced over 50 shots in a game for the first time in his NOJHL career in earning the win. He saw 23 shots against alone in the third.
Bowen meanwhile saw 34 attempts fired his way in defeat for RBC.
The result was a winning one for Powassan head coach Max Gavin who earned the triumph in his NOJHL regular season debut.
The Voodoos are back on the ice in Kirkland Lake Saturday when they take on the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
