Romaniuk nets pair to help Rock spoil Voodoos home opener

POWASSAN — The Timmins Rock gained a modicum of revenge on the team that eliminated them from the 2024 NOJHL playoffs at the Sportsplex Friday night.

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Brant Romaniuk scored a pair of goals to help lead the Rock to a 5-1 victory over the Voodoos in the first game of the regular-season campaign for both squads.

It continued a trend that saw the road team win all seven games in the 2024 East Division final, something Rock fans will be hoping comes to an end at the McIntyre Arena on Friday, Sept. 20.

The Rock spotted the Voodoos a 1-0 advantage in the first period of Friday night’s contest, as Ryan McCoy scored his first goal of the season just over a minute shy of the midway mark in the frame.

Romaniuk tied things up six-and-a-half minutes later when he notched the first of his two goals in the contest.

Just over a minute later, Jack Kelly — a former Voodoo — supplied what would prove to be the game-winning tally.

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The second period proved to be all Rock, with the visitors striking for three goals in the span of 2:03.

Hayden Rynard got the puck rolling when he picked up his first goal of the season.

Ryan Armitage added his first goal of the season 52 seconds later and Romaniuk then closed out the scoring with his second marker of the contest.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third period, although the Rock outshot the Voodoos 13-3 in the frame.

Rock goalie Dryden Riley stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced to earn his first win of the young season.

Voodoos netminder Tyson Wilcox, who turned aside 32 of the 37 shots the Rock directed his way, was tagged with the loss.

NOJHL NOTES — The three stars of the game were Romaniuk, Rock forward Lucas Lowe (two assists) and McCoy … The Rock went 0-4 on the power play, while the Voodoos were 0-1 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the Powassan Sportsplex was 179 … Friday’s other action saw the Hearst Lumberjacks knock off the Cubs 6-2 in Greater Sudbury and the Soo Eagles fly past the Paper Kings 5-3 in Espanola … The Rock will conclude their two-game weekend road trip with a game against the Rapids in French River on Saturday, at 7 p.m. They will then return home to host the Voodoos for their home opener at the McIntyre Arena on Friday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.

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