Voodoos score late to edge Rapids

Adam McKillop’s first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League goal, coming with nearly seven minutes remaining in regulation, proved to be the game-winner as the Powassan Voodoos pulled out a narrow 3-2 triumph over the French River Rapids Friday in a tightly-contested encounter at the Powassan Sportsplex.

Striking shorthanded to take the lead, the Voodoos opened the scoring 11 minutes into the match-up as Justin Rousseau banked the puck ahead off the side boards that allowed Nathan Pelletier to race in on a breakaway where he cut to his right and got just enough of his attempt to get it through Rapids’ starter Carter Vicente and trickle in.

Continuing to press the pace into the second stanza, Pelletier notched another, this time during a power play, as he snagged a rebound, then spun and fired a low attempt by Vicente at 2:45.

Getting one back just over three minutes later, Nolan Masson put French River on the board as he pumped in a chance off a Hunter Vilanez attempt that eluded Voodoos’ goaltender Austin Seibel.

The close contest saw the visitors notch the equalizer quickly into a man advantage, eight minutes into the third, with Vilanez putting one top shelf by a screened Seibel from up high.

Retaking the lead with 7:11 remaining, McKillop collected his initial tally NOJHL as he blasted in a one-timer off a give-and-go with Lucas Gunner from the right circle.

Powassan then tightened defensively from there to secure the narrow win while improving to 5-5-0-2 overall.

Meanwhile, the close setback saw the Rapids slip to 4-7-0-2.