OVERTIME MAGIC: VOYAGEURS BREAK LOSING STREAK IN PAIR OF WEEKEND O.T. CONTESTS AGAINST SAIT

OVERTIME MAGIC: VOYAGEURS BREAK LOSING STREAK IN PAIR OF WEEKEND O.T. CONTESTS AGAINST SAIT
February 4, 2025

CALGARY – Now that's what the doctor ordered! An ailing Portage College Voyageurs squad, losers of 14 straight hockey games heading into last weekend, turned the season-long narrative of close but no cigar around against league-leading SAIT. Taking after their head coach Kevin McClelland, suffering from an illness but still determined to be behind the bench, the Voyageurs battled hard and gave the top-seeded Trojans all they could handle Friday and Saturday, splitting the weekend series and taking both games to overtime. SAIT took the opener 4-3 while Portage took the second match 6-5.

 

"Goaltending was really good," said McClelland, back in his office at the Bold Center on Monday. "And the guys competed. And you know, when things got a little lopsided, they didn't get panicky."

 

Indeed, all the ingredients for a winning recipe were there over the weekend. On Friday, Ethan Shebansky was spectacular in the net, stopping 49 of the 53 shots he faced. Meanwhile, the Voyageurs scored not one but two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead midway through the third before giving up the equalizer with less than four minutes to play with the visitors down a man once again. Zach Cain, who single-handedly beat Portage by notching all four of SAIT's goals, then potted the winner 19 seconds into the extra frame.

 

Not to be outdone, Mikal Chalifoux potted four markers of his own in the rematch – including the OT winner on the powerplay – and Luke Hall made 46 saves as the Voyageurs ensured they broke through the Trojans' defenses and left town with three important points. With the likes of Tye Evans, Carter Yarish and Chalifoux finding their scoring touch, McClelland wasn't surprised with the encouraging results on the scoreboard.

 

"It was real positive," he said. "We got some timely scoring. The guys that usually score scored and that's what you want but again, I think the key was goaltending."

 

The other key, noted McClelland with a tinge of regret, was finally having almost everyone available to dress. Routinely this year, there have been at least half a dozen players unavailable, either because of injury or because they've been away on program practicums.

 

"That's the first time that we've had our whole lineup together the whole season. The WHOLE SEASON, that's the first time…It just shows where we could've been," he emphasized.

 

Nonetheless, as they prepare to hit the road again this coming weekend against another top contender, McClelland believes the strong performances in Calgary bode well as they prepare for equally tough contests versus Briercrest in Carenport, Saskatchewan.

 

"They're a little nasty in their building so our guys have gotta be ready for a challenge," he said. "We've got to respond. It's a real difficult environment to play in for sure…but we'll be good."

 

Feb. 1 Players of the Game

 

Feb. 2 Players of the Game