IROQUOIS FALLS – A Brady Clouthier goal midway through the third period was the difference maker as the Abitibi Eskimos edged the Powassan Voodoos 4-3 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at Jus Jordan Arena.
The home side staked themselves to a 2-0 lead through one period on efforts by Kevin Walker and a surging Brenden Locke, who fired home his seventh tally in his last three outings for Abitibi.
Ryan Tront then added to the Eskimos lead early in the second before Michael Silveri put Powassan in flight with 8:54 left in the middle session.
Steve Harland, on the power play, brought the Voodoos to within one at 6:55 of the third only to see Clouthier supply eventual game-winner to put Abitibi up by two once again.
Staying in it, Tyler Gervais-Rolfe, struck shorthanded with 7:46 left in regulation, but it would be as close as the visitors would get before time expired.
Chet Tooker made 34 stops to pick-up the win in net for the Eskimos.
Ben Auger faced 38 shots in the setback for Powassan.
NOJHL action resumes Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. as the Soo Thunderbirds host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at John Rhodes Community Centre in a rematch of last season’s league final.
