Thunderbirds hold off Voodoos comeback

Building up a three-goal lead, the Soo Thunderbirds then had to withstand a late Powassan Voodoos push before eventually prevailing 3-2 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at John Rhodes Community Centre.

Capitalizing by keeping a play in the Powassan zone, Sault Ste. Marie took advantage as Camden Cowan went in on Voodoos’ netminder Austin Seibel and buried his first NOJHL tally with a blocker-side shot, 6:08 in.

Going up 2-0 in the middle stanza, James Legler made a nice pass that sent Callum McAuley in alone where he finished off his chance into the left corner.

Striking shorthanded, the Thunderbirds added a third tally on the night as Jacob Smith steered in a cross-ice set-up from Jonathan Sonedecker.

Heading to the final frame, Powassan got on the board, via the power play, at 3:47 when Justin Rousseau stuffed in a Nathan Pelletier cross-crease pass by Soo goaltender Noah Metivier.

The Voodoos then pulled to within one when Cayden Kowal went in on a breakaway where he made a couple of quick dekes before tucking the puck past the pad of Metivier with just under 11 minutes to go.

With the two tallies, Rousseau and Kowal ran consecutive game point streaks to seven apiece.

A late man advantage and with their goalie out for an additional skater, Powassan pushed hard to tie it and force overtime.

However, the Soo held firm defensively to collect to home ice triumph.

With the victory, the Thunderbirds improve to 10-7-1-0 on the season.

In defeat, the Voodoos fell to 8-6-0-2. They are back in action on Saturday night as they head to the Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to take on the Soo Eagles.