Voodoos sign Major addition

There is no real off-season in hockey, and the Powassan Voodoos are proving that is the case.

The club Friday added former North Bay Trappers defenceman Zach Major to their roster.

The six-foot-two Major played eight games in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League last year as a call-up by Powassan.

He was also an Ontario Hockey League draft choice in 2022, going to the Owen Sound Attack in round nine.

The lanky defender thinks that experience will go a long way to giving him a big head start this fall.

“I know how it is, the speed, the physicality, it is not that much of a change after having a cup of tea in the league. So, I am ready to get started and show the rest of the league what I got.”

Major sees himself as a 200-foot player.

“I am a two-way defenceman. I took pride in all three zones. I love playing offensive and defensive. I played with them so I know how they play. I think (Voodoos) coach Marc Lafleur really knows how to make the defenceman join the rush.”

General manager Chris Dawson has had a busy week. One-time Sudbury Nickel Capitals defenceman Tyson Rismond, a Battalion pick in round four, signed a couple

of days ago.

Dawson thinks the 16-year-old Major can be a top four defenceman from Day 1.

“At times during the playoffs, Zach was playing in the top four, against the Hearst Lumberjacks, which is a top-end team. I do not believe the age of Zach or another 16-year-old like Rismond affects

them at all. They are two of the best players of their age in Northern Ontario.”

Dawson says Major has great onice maturity.

“For Zach, he showed his comfort level, he showed his poise, he plays well under pressure.”

The Voodoos GM echoed the sentiments of Battalion general manager

Adam Dennis when it comes to player character.

“I am lucky. I think one of the most important things, as Adam Dennis always says, it is not just about getting good players, it is about getting good people. The Majors, Zach Major and his family, are real quality people and that is what you want.”