Cade Herd collected his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League hat trick to power the Powassan Voodoos to a 5-2 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Thursday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Voodoos head coach Beau Moyer was impressed with the strong start and as well as the play of goaltender Christian Cicigoi who got his third win of the season.
"Cicigoi made some big saves and allowed the boys to get their legs and put some offensive pressure," said Moyer.
"It was nice to see Cade Herd score three goals, he's a shooter and has to use his shot like that he's playing with good players just needs to get open space."
Herd put the Voodoos in flight 61 seconds after the opening face-off for the lone tally of the first period.
He then struck again early in the middle stanza as his second of the evening at 1:15 made it 2-0 Powassan.
Kirkland Lake countered 15 seconds later however with former Trappers forward Joe Whittet picking up his second of the campaign to cut the deficit in half.
However, the Voodoos came right back just over a minute later to restore the two-goal lead compliments of Dylan D’Agostino.
Herd then finished off his hat trick at 6:21 making it 4-1 Powassan to also end Gold Miners’ starter Ryan Winter’s night in favour of Cade McEwen.
Max Cavallini got one back for the Gold Miners late in the frame, but a Dayton Murray power-play blast midway through the third capped off the road win for the Voodoos.
Moyer was also impressed with the play of two former Trappers teammates in Eric Mondoux and Payton Vescio.
"Our defense was solid, the play of Mondoux and Vescio was very impressive for 16 and 17-year-old defensemen," said Moyer.
"Kirkland Lake gave a great effort but our possession and speed off the rush allowed us to create offensive opportunities."
Tyson Gilmour picked up an assist for the visitors raising a consecutive game point streak to six in the process and Kirkland Lake’s Gabriel Rheault had a helper to give him points in four straight and six of seven.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured Powassan 30-27 with Christian Cicigoi picking up the victory.
Winter suffered the loss allowing four against on 11 attempts while McEwen handled 18 of 19 in relief.
With the result, the Voodoos improve to 6-1 on the season and moved back into first overall in the NOJHL standings while the Gold Miners fell to 2-4-1.
The Voodoos are back on home ice on Saturday night when they host the Cochrane Crunch. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at the Powassan Sportsplex.
