Ibbitson ignites Voodoos to OT win over Wildcats

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2015

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Josh Ibbitson goal with 51 seconds remaining in the first overtime was the difference as the Powassan Voodoos rallied to edge the Elliot Lake Wildcats 5-4 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at Centennial Arena.

Elliot Lake got off to a good start grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on tallies 39 seconds apart by Connor Rider and Curtis Rawn.

A Jake Staples power play marker with 7:57 to go in the middle stanza put Powassan on the board only to see Spencer MacLean answer that, three and a half minutes later, to restore the two-goal cushion for the home side.

An all-important Nathaniel McLeod marker with nine seconds left in the frame brought the visitors to within one entering the third.

Again however the Wildcats went up by two as Drew Stirling found the mark with 16:22 to go.

Battling back, Powassan moved closer with a man advantage effort supplied by Steve Harland at 6:13 and they then forced OT with 73 seconds remaining in regulation when Tyler Peters struck shorthanded to knot it at 4-4.

Ibbitson then completed the comeback for the Voodoos with his extra time game-winner to give them the extra point on the night.

Michael Silveri had two assists for the winning side with Alec MacKenzie doing likewise for the Wildcats.

Garrett Forrest finished with 30 saves in recording the triumph for Powassan while Allan Menary saw 33 shots put his way in the OT setback, which allowed Elliot Lake to earn a point.