Game Photo – Chelsea Solomon
SUDBURY, Ont. – A trio of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League exhibition encounters Friday night saw the Powassan Voodoos, Timmins Rock and Elliot Lake Red Wings all come away victorious.
POWASSAN 2 KIRKLAND LAKE 1 (OT) – The hometown Voodoos rallied late in regulation, then pulled out the win in extra time to give Powassan the decision.
Kirkland Lake opened the scoring 13:35 into the contest on a Dakota Seaman effort.
It stayed 1-0 for the visitors until deep into the third period when Ben Danielsen notched the equalizer, during a late power play, with just under three minutes remaining.
Skating three aside in OT, Little would come up big as he chipped in the game-winner from the top of the crease past Gold Miners’ goalkeeper Nicolas Alverez.
Owen Wray picked up the win in relief for Powassan as he handled all 12 attempts he faced while Alex Bugeja stopped 16 of 17 in 34 minutes of work.
Alverez was solid in the defeat for Kirkland Lake, making 50 saves overall.
TIMMINS 2 HEARST 1 – A tight-checking preseason affair saw Rock pick up the narrow victory over the Lumberjacks.
After a scoreless first frame, Timmins got on the board 6:44 into the second period thanks to Yan Bessette.
Answering on the man advantage before the session was complete, Hearst tied it in the final minute of the frame as Robbie Rutledge found the back of the net.
Breaking the deadlock with 14:11 to go was Nolan Ring as his first of the preseason proved to be the difference maker.
Gavin McCarthy started in net for the Rock while Matteo Gennaro did likewise for the Lumberjacks.
ELLIOT LAKE 11 ESPANOLA 2 – It was all Red Wings in this one as they rolled to the triumph in their initial exhibition match-up.
Elliot Lake started strong and skated to a three-tally cushion after one period of play on markers from Ethan Mercer, Brodie Kearns and Dayton Clarke.
The Red Wings erupted for four more goals in the second as Kearns, Silas Crawford, Tyson Bradford and Quinn Gavin-White all connected to put the guests up by six.
Espanola got two back late in the period thanks to Owen Harris and Adam Shillinglaw.
However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the third as Elliot Lake put it away with a four-goal outburst to win going away.
Netting those tallies were Cameron Dial, Jovani Moses, Teegan Dumont and Alex Antoine.
Brock McNaugton also chipped in offensively for the Red Wings by doling out four assists.
Nolan Chartrand picked up the win in two periods of work while Ryder Gregga played the third.
Reid Gates and Vaughn Le Drew both saw time in net for the Express in defeat.