The Timmins Rock broke open a close contest with three quick goals midway through the second period to send them on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Powassan Voodoos Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Powassan Sportsplex.
The game was a rematch of the long NOJHL eastern conference final which the Voodoos pulled out in 7 games.
In the season opener for both clubs, it was the Voodoos who began the night’s scoring, nearly nine minutes in, when they broke out of their own zone quickly, using three sharp passes, that set-up an unmarked Ryan McCoy, making his NOJHL debut, as he ripped a shot over the blocker of Rock starter Dryden Riley.
Regrouping, Timmins answered with a couple of markers in the latter half of the session to take a 2-1 lead after one period of play.
Former North Bay AAA Trappers forward Brant Romaniuk put the visitors on the board as he was left with plenty of room to swat in the equalizer from the top of the crease on Powassan netminder Tyson Wilcox.
The Rock then notched another moments later as former Voodoo Jack Kelly banked one in from the side of the net.
Moving to the middle frame, Timmins broke it open with their trio of tallies midway through the match-up to gain the upper hand.
Hayden Rynard began the outburst at 8:29 as he chipped a chance over Wilcox.
Banging in another less than a minute later, Ryan Armitage took a long up-ice pass then moved in and snapped it in from the slot.
Adding to it, Romaniuk potted his second of the evening as he broke in on a two-on-one and finished off a Lucas Lowe feed.
The final frame proved to be scoreless as the Rock powered their way to the road win.
Both teams play again Saturday with Voodoos hosting Elliot Lake while Timmins travels to French River in a pair of 7 p.m. starts.
