Hearst handles slumping Powassan

HEARST, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks broke open a third period tie with a trio on unanswered tallies in the final frame to help them skate to a 6-3 victory over the Powassan Voodoos Saturday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Claude Larose Arena.

Each side would score once in the opening 20 minutes with Powassan’s Cade Herd collecting his league-leading 12th at 3:32 during a man advantage before Max Griffioen drew the Lumberjacks level with his eighth at 17:19.

The clubs then tacked on two more apiece in the middle session as it stayed tied through two periods of play.

Griffioen with another along with a goal off the stick Jake Desando put Hearst up 3-1 only to see the Voodoos counter quickly with markers 70 seconds apart courtesy of Eric Allair and Joe Whittet.

The Lumberjacks went back in front for good during a power play in the final frame when Cameron Clark contributed the eventual game-winner at 9:08.

Powassan then pulled starter Joe Vrbetic in the latter stages of the match-up to try and tie it, but Hearst put it away with empty net goals from Daniel Fisher and Dawson Waddell to secure the result.

Desando also chipped in with two assists to give the Lumberjacks’ forward three points on the night.

Tomi Gagnon made 21 saves to record the win for Hearst while Vrbetic faced 34 attempts in defeat for the Voodoos.