Rousselle a dandy defender
He was born in December of 2008 which means Dylan Rousselle just turned 17 years old. And despite his young age and being a rookie defenseman with the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Rousselle has made significant strides thus far this season.
Hailing from the Highway 17 town of Blind River, Rousselle moved away from home to first play at the AAA level with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds and the Grey-Bruce Highlanders. And through 27 NOJHL games of the ’25-26 season, Rousselle is sixth among NOJHL defensemen with 20 points, including seven goals.
To be sure, long-time Powassan general manager Chris Dawson likes what the Voodoos have in the 5 foot 10, 170 pound Rousselle.
“Dylan has done a great job adjusting from under 18 level hockey to the NOJHL,” Dawson relayed to Hockey News North. “Like most rookies, there have been some bumps in the road, but Dylan is a competitor.
“Our organization was seeking a defender who could make a strong first pass, but also move the puck with his feet,” Dawson continued. “Dylan has done that, and now his offensive instincts are starting to show more and more. Credit goes to coach Peter Goulet and defensive coach Vitali Yachmenev for working with him and making the transition to junior an easier one.”