Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Powassan Voodoos saw a stellar effort from their goaltender Derrick Champagne, as he stopped every shot put his way Friday, to post his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout in blanking the Soo Eagles 3-0 in a contest held at Pullar Stadium.
The visiting Voodoos kicked off the scoring 12:28 in when Owen Head neatly redirected in a Braeden Begley shot from the right point that changed direction and got past Eagles’ netminder Jace Knoerle.
Powassan then doubled their lead in the latter stages of the second period when Pavel Barclay scooped up a rebound and pumped it upstairs from the right side of a downed Knoerle.
In the final session, Sault Ste. Marie got their goalkeeper out with 3:09 remaining and starting a late power play for two additional skaters in an effort to get on the board, but Champagne and his penalty killers held firm.
The Voodoos then iced the road win with an empty netter off the stick of Caleb Dawson in the final minute as he took a crisp pass from Marcus Krats and deposited it from the left circle, on a man advantage, to round out the scoring.
With the victory, Powassan raises their record to 11-3-0-1 and in defeat, the Eagles fall to 5-13-0-1.
