Dylan McMahon scored twice in the second period, including the game-winner, to help the Blind River Beavers earn a 4-2 victory Sunday in a battle of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League unbeaten clubs at the Blind River Community Centre.
It was a bit of revenge for the Beavers, who were swept 4-0 in the NOJHL finals against the Voodoos including seeing the Powassan squad hoist the Copeland Cup on their home ice.
A tight-checking opening frame saw the contest go scoreless after 20 minutes.
The Beavers would get going offensively by striking three times in the middle session to take a 3-0 lead after two periods of play.
Caleb Serre opened the scoring for the home side during a man advantage chance at 7:53 while McMahon upped the cushion 50 seconds later.
McMahon then added the eventual difference maker in the later stages of the stanza to extend their lead.
Battling back in the third, the Voodoos converted during an early power play as Brett Hahkala cut into the deficit.
A later extra-man opportunity allowed the visitors to move within one as Hahkala struck again to make it 3-2 with just over seven minutes left in regulation.
Blind River would eventually prevail however with Owen Robinson adding some insurance with 40 seconds to go on a Beavers’ power play to round out the night’s scoring.
Max Khull had two assists for the winners in the triumph.
Garret Boyonoski registered the win stopping 28 of the 30 attempts he saw in the contest.
Battalion prospect Christian Cicigoi suffered the loss in net for Powassan making 20 saves in the setback.
With the result, Blind River raised their record to 4-0, which is a franchise mark for victories to begin a season.
In defeat, the Voodoos suffered their initial loss of the campaign falling to 4-1 overall to round out a three-game western road swing which started with 5-3 wins in Soo, Michigan on Friday and another 5-3 victory on Saturday night against the Soo Thunderbirds.
The loss is also the first for rookie head coach Beau Moyer, as his squad came into the game with a 7-game winning streak going back to pre-season play.
"I love the compete for 3 games in 3 days against 3 quality teams that were well prepared by 3 good coaches to play against us," noted Moyer.
"With only 9 returning players it was a great learning tool for the new players and coaching staff to be prepared for the four 3-in-3 night trips we have ahead of us the rest of the season.
"All in all it was a successful weekend, the boys are coming together nicely and there is definitely no quit in our team. We definitely have a group of strong character players which are all driven to succeed."
The Voodoos are back on the road Friday when they travel to Elliot Lake to take on the Wildcats.
