Skip to content

Voodoos overwhelm Wildcats; add another Battalion prospect

Payton Vescio nets two assists in his Voodoos debut
20170917battalionattackvescio
Battalion prospect Payton Vescio, seen here in action last Sunday versus the Owen Sound Attack, had a solid debut for the Voodoos. Photo by Tom Martineau.

Ryan Theriault picked up a pair of first period goals to help pace the Powassan Voodoos to an eventual 7-3 victory over the Elliot Lake Wildcats Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Centennial Arena.

Theriault’s first and second tallies of the season, 10 minutes apart, including one on the power play, put the Voodoos in flight in the opening frame.

Elliot Lake got one back before the stanza was finished as Nick Long’s fourth of the season finished off a Wildcats man-advantage chance with 39 seconds left in the session.

Each side would tally twice in the middle session to make it 4-3 Powassan after 40 minutes as Brett Hahkala and Tyson Gilmour connected for the visitors while Dave Elford and Logan Frieburger countered for the home side.

The Voodoos would put the game away in the third however striking for three unanswered markers to secure the decision.

Dylan D’Agostino, during a man advantage early, made it 5-3 while Cade Herd and Tomas Yachmenev supplied even strength efforts later on to wrap things up offensively.

Shane Beaulieu and newcomer Payton Vescio dished out two assists apiece in the win for Powassan.

Vescio, was sent down to the Voodoos from the North Bay Battalion on Thursday.   

"Payton is a great kid I have had the opportunity to coach him in the past spring hockey tournaments in his younger days," noted Voodoos head coach Beau Moyer.  

"I know he will be a good player for us from the years he spent under Scott Huyke. He will play a big part in our success and I hope we can develop his offensive game so he can be a player that plays PP and PK at the OHL level. He's a right shot D that will make an impact in all three zones for us." 

Shots on goal on the night were 65-43 in the Voodoos’ favour with Shayne Battler picking up the triumph and Allan Menary suffering the loss.