VOYAGEURS VANQUISH VIKINGS IN FIRST EXHIBITION GAME OF SEASON

LAC LA BICHE – It's official: the boys are back in town – and they're on a mission.

The Portage College Voyageurs skated on to Bold Centre ice for the first time in 2025-26 on Saturday night with their entrance song blaring over the loudspeakers and showed that they are determined to take a big step forward this upcoming season. In a physical but relatively peaceful affair, the hosts bested the visiting Augustana Vikings 3-2 to kick off the exhibition portion of their schedule. Aidan Taylor led the way with two goals, with speedy defenseman Jett McCullum adding the other marker. Zak Anderson potted two for the visitors.

"For a first game with a bunch of rookies…I thought the guys did pretty well," said Head Coach Kevin McClelland after the game.  

After a strong but scoreless first period, where they carried a good portion of the play, the Voyageurs tallied three times in the second, including two goals in the last 30 seconds of the period. Ironically, it was probably their worst period of the game, as the Vikings outshot them 18-7 and dominated for a good chunk of the frame. If not for the tandem of Jackson Miller and Ethan Baron between the pipes, the score might've been a little different.

"We were getting real bad body position in the second period, and they were stretching guys and just tipping the puck into the middle and that's where we were getting caught," explained McClelland. "We made an adjustment and got a little bit better after that."

Although they were outshot 16-5 in the third, the hosts played a stronger third and kept the Vikings from potting the equalizer, despite a lengthy five-on-three disadvantage late in the period. McClelland was suitable impressed with his troops on this night.

"They guys, you know, they're tough," he said. "They play physical, they play hard, they play gritty."

Portage now has two weeks off before the next exhibition on the road against the same Augustana squad, thanks to a planned trip to Victoria falling through. Despite the long stretch between games, McClelland isn't too concerned.

"No, it'll be fine," he said. "It'll allow the guys to get home for a little bit before we get into the heat of the season for sure."

Players of the Game

Augustana:  #9 Zak Anderson

Portage: #19 Aiden Taylor