Voodoos vs Beavers Sept 24 16 from Chris Dawson on Vimeo.
In a penalty-filled affair, the Powassan Voodoos, led by Murray's scoring, Tyson Gilmour's energy, and Nate McDonald's solid shutout goaltending, dispatched the Beavers 6-0 Saturday evening at Powassan Sportsplex.
The Powassan Voodoos' faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief when their hometown team bounced back with a statement win against a Beavers side that was 4-1 on the young NOJHL season entering Saturday's tilt.
You see, until Murray scored the first of four goals by Voodoos blueliners on the night, at 6:29 of the first, the team had allowed nine straight goals against. Eric Nagy opened the scoring when the Voodoos took on the Timmins Rock Thursday evening, and then they surrendered nine straight in a 9-1 pounding.
That thrashing was still on the mind of the players and Head Coach Scott Wray, even after Saturday's victory. "It was a big character win (Saturday). It was an embarrassing loss up in Timmins, uncharacteristic of our players the way we played. Right from the coaching staff down, we weren't prepared," said Wray.
Wray continued, saying, "You're allowed a mulligan, but we play them (Timmins) Sunday night, so it's a big statement for us to show that it was a mistake. If not, then we've got a lot of work to do. They're a big divisional rival."
Just 48 hours after Gilmour watched the Rock game in street clothes and goaltender Nate McDonald was pulled before the second period after allowing five Timmins goals, the duo redeemed themselves on Saturday.
After scratching Gilmour during the team's emotional OT win over the Cochrane Crunch last Monday, Wray kept the same lineup together for the meeting with the Rock.
"Gilmour made me look really foolish sitting him two games in a row. He came in and proved why he should be in the lineup every night. I think Gilmour was the best player on the ice tonight," said Wray, which is high praise from the Voodoos bench boss.
McDonald was solid, and at times spectacular, stopping all 28 Blind River shots for his first shutout of the season. In a neat bit of hockey synergy, former Voodoo goalie Garrett Forrest, traded to OHL Flint in the trade that brought Brent Moran to the Battalion, got his first OHL shutout Saturday.
Murray was the statistical hero, recording the rare double-hat trick with three goals and three minor penalties. Cameron Moore had the fourth of the Voodoos goals from the defencemen, while Tyler Gervais-Rolfe and Rhys Brown, with his first career Voodoos goal, had singles to round out the scoring.
Murray feels that Coach Wray's faith in his ability to read and jump into the play at the right time has meshed well with his style of game. "I feel like he has a lot of confidence in me. I just have to be smart, and pick my spots," said Murray.
Not lost on Murray is the importance of the two-way game, saying some of the older players he has played with have been positive influences.
On Thursday night's loss to the Rock, Murray said, "Thursday night just wasn't us. It wasn't Voodoo hockey. We will show that we are not a team that takes losing like that lightly."
The rematch with the Timmins Rock is Sunday night at the Powassan Sportsplex. Puck drops at 7:30.
