Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Tucker Shields notched the lone goal of the shootout to help propel the Powassan Voodoos past the Soo Eagles 4-3 Saturday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together at Pullar Stadium.
The Eagles began the scoring while on a power play near the 11-minute mark of the contest as Sutton Majeski pumped in a one-timer from the high slot off a Lane Janssen feed.
Getting that back before the first intermission, Chase Thompson tied it for the Voodoos at 16:14 when he stuffed in a rebound past the outstretched pad of Sault Ste. Marie starter Anthony Zolezzi following a rising shot from the left circle by Darby McCarthy.
Moving to the middle frame, the Soo regained the lead just over four minutes in off a Kenny Belanger Jr., attempt that clipped off the stick of a Powassan defender and change direction enough to elude goalkeeper Daniel Dirracolo.
Helping his club tie it before the second period break, Parker McLelland notched his opening NOJHL marker, with a well-placed wrist shot from the top of the left circle that sailed through a maze past Zolezzi.
In the third, the Soo went back into the lead once more off a scramble in the Voodoos zone that eventually saw Jack Ohlund credited for his first in the NOJHL.
Heading deep in regulation, Powassan forced overtime with a minute and a half remaining on a late man advantage and with their goalie out for an additional skater.
That tying tally came when McLelland fired a shot from the right point that was stopped by Zolezzi, but Caden Dubreuil was right there to slam in the rebound and send it to extra time.
After a scoreless OT, extra attempts were needed to decide a winner on the night.
There, Tucker converted on the initial opportunity as he skated in slowly before ripping one into the bottom right corner.
The Voodoos’ stopper Dirracolo then did his part in keeping the Soo from scoring to get the win.
With the outcome, Powassan moves to 3-1-0-1 on the season while the Eagles collected a point despite the setback and dropped to 2-2-0-1 overall.