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Local line comes up big for Voodoos

McLeod, Staples and Peters combine for 17 points in one sided affair.
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Voodoos captain Jake Staples after a second period goal. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Powassan Voodoos big line of locals Jake Staples, Tyler Peters and Nathaniel McLeod combined for 17 points as they rolled to a 9-2 triumph over the French River Rapids Monday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Powassan Sportsplex.

Captain Jake Staples, who is from Callander, believes it was one of those nights where everything the Voodoos did, seemed to lead to a goal.   

"Right from the start of the game, the bounces seemed to be going our way," said Staples.  

"All four lines were buzzing, getting chances but the pucks just seemed to going in for us. It's good to have one of these nights every now and then, seemed like in this sort of game this season our line has struggled to produce but tonight definitely flipped the script." 

French River did get on the board first in this one thanks to Garrett Johnston’s second of the season at 5:18 on the power play.

The Voodoos countered with a pair of tallies before the opening period was complete on efforts by Staples, via a man advantage, and Peters at even strength five minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead into the second.

Powassan tacked on two more in the middle session to go up 4-1 through 40 minutes on a man advantage effort from McLeod along with Staples second of the night.

The home side then blew the game open striking five times before the third period was six minutes old to take control of the contest.

After McLeod made it 5-1 at 1:18, Eric Champagne notched his 16th a couple shifts later.

Powassan kept coming as McLeod finished off a hat trick at 4:31 while Nicolas Siracuse and Jesse Anderson had goals 18 seconds apart to put the game away.

The Rapids power play saw them round out the scoring at 7:36 on Tyler McGregor’s seventh.

Peters finished with a season-high five assists while Staples had four helpers, which was also the most he has had in one game in 2015-16.

Mario Cavaliere made 23 saves to record the win for the Voodoos.

Alec St. Georges started for the Rapids and suffered the loss allowing eight against on 45 shots while Zach Mills stopped nine of 10 in relief.  

The win improves the Voodoos, who are ranked #14 in the nation this week, to 33-8-3-1 on the season.   The win also gives the Voodoos 70 points, leaving them 2 points behind the East Division leading Cochrane Crunch.