Voodoos vs Eskis Feb 6 17 from Chris Dawson on Vimeo.
The league-leading Voodoos never trailed and scored six unanswered goals to close out the second half of the game.
It is always a good sign for a coach when, in the absence of some big-time talent, some less-heralded players step in and thrive in their unfamiliar assignments.
"I don't change a thing, I just treat them like they're going to succeed in the role. They are expected to succeed anywhere I put them, but I do tell them that this is a good time to take advantage of the ice time and prove that they can be put in those situations," said Powassan Head Coach Scott Wray.
To Wray, it can only help the Voodoos' chances of playoff glory to have more than the top guys firing on all cylinders.
Said Wray, "Secondary scoring is huge. When you get into a playoff series it's not always your top players who are the best players, it's character guys stepping up and scoring a big goal or blocking a big shot.
"You do so much video and scouting on the other teams that you shut down their top line and somebody's got to produce. It always happens that it's your second, third, fourth line that is stepping up and producing."
Wray said that as a coach, his confidence in expanding roles for players grows with performances like Monday night, a 10-3 home ice win over the Iroquois Falls Eskis.
The Voodoos enjoyed multiple point nights from eight different skaters, led by four-point nights by Austin Ramirez and Ryan Theriault.
Ramirez and Theriault scored two apiece, while Dayton Murray, Dylan D'Agostino, Ryan Hahkala, Shane Beaulieu added singles. Andy Baker notched his league-leading 39th goal and affiliated player Mason McMahon scored his first NOJHL goal in the win. Nate McDonald made 22 saves for the victory.
The Eskis were paced by Josh Dejulio who scored one goal and helped set up the other two markers for his club as he upped his NOJHL-leading point total among league defencemen to 42 and extended his point streak to seven.
Trevor Hawkes started for the Eskis and suffered the loss allowing eight goals against on 33 shots, with affiliate Ty Sparling stopping 18 of 20 in nearly 22 minutes of relief for Iroquois Falls.
Powassan forward Beaulieu, acquired at the trade deadline, contributed one goal and two assists and was one of the players who saw increased ice time and responsibility with Gary Mantz, Tyson Gilmour, Tyler Gervais-Rolfe and Parker Bowman out of the lineup.
Beaulieu said the loss of Mantz, one of the team's leading scorers, is hard to replace, but the team found ways to step up on the offensive side. "I was playing with Baker tonight, and he's obviously inclined in the skill department," so that made the transition much easier.
"I just tried to get Baker the puck and work well with him, and things will happen. I play my own game, battling hard, using my speed, and using my vision," added Beaulieu.
Ramirez, who added two assists to go with his pair of goals was pleased with his biggest performance as a Voodoo. "I try to play fast and smart, also disciplined. I don't try to change my game," when taking on a larger role, "I just play Voodoos hockey."
Said Wray post-game, "I was talking to my coaches earlier today and I said how [in an odd way] it has been nice to have these certain guys out, so guys like Cade Herd and Beaulieu and Ramirez are stepping up and we're seeing how versatile and important they are."
