The Espanola Paper Kings navigated a challenging two-game road trip, securing a comeback victory against the previously unbeaten Powassan Voodoos before falling to the Greater Sudbury Cubs.
Paper Kings hand Voodoos first loss
On Wednesday, the Paper Kings defeated the Powassan Voodoos 6-3 in a back-and-forth contest. After Powassan’s Caleb Dawson opened the scoring, Espanola’s Carter Drigo responded with two goals to give the Paper Kings a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Dawson then scored his second of the game for the Voodoos to tie it 2-2. Cayden Kowal put Powassan back in the lead with a power-play goal, but Noah Logan tied the game for the Paper Kings before the end of the second.
Espanola broke the tie in the third period with a shorthanded goal from Owen Smith. Cameron Menard extended the lead with a power-play marker, and Ashton Pitawanakwat sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Cubs edge Paper Kings in close matchup
The Paper Kings returned to the ice on Thursday, falling 4-3 to the Greater Sudbury Cubs. Nolan Newton scored two goals for the Cubs, including the game-winner in the final minutes.
The Cubs established a 2-0 lead in the second period with goals from Spencer Horgan and Newton. Graydon Guthrie put the Paper Kings on the board with a power-play goal, cutting the deficit to one.
In the third, Greater Sudbury’s Eidan Macartney restored the two-goal lead with a shorthanded goal. Carter Drigo again responded for the Paper Kings, making it 3-2. Newton then scored his second of the night to put the Cubs back up by two. Menard scored with the extra attacker in the final minute to make it a one-goal game, but the Cubs held on for the win.