VOYAGEURS PUT IN NOBLE EFFORT IN TOUGH LOSSES TO KINGS

RED DEER – They didn't gain any points in the standings, but the Portage College Voyageurs didn't come home empty handed from their weekend trip to Central Alberta. Losing 4-1 on Friday night and 7-6 on Saturday afternoon to the league-leading Red Deer Polytechnic Kings, Kevin McClelland's troops nonetheless returned home Saturday night brimming with confidence after giving the league leaders a real battle royale.

"Our guys played well," said the Voyageurs' Head Coach. "Going into a tough building after travelling down south and then going out on the ice and playing hard, I think our guys did great."

On Friday night, the Voyageurs overcame a sluggish start (thanks in part to some stellar goaltending from Tresor Wotton) and went stride for stride with the three-time defending champions right up until the last three minutes of play. Down 2-0 after the first period, Portage closed the gap on Karsten Gorrill's first of the season midway through the second. Outshooting the hosts 30-19 over the final two periods and generating several Grade A scoring chances, the Voyageurs were unable to find the equalizer before the Kings added a pair of goals – including an empty netter – to seal the deal. McClelland liked what he saw from his players over the final 40 minutes, reserving criticism for himself in the loss.

"I think in the second and third, we started taking that game over a little bit," he said. "And when we're down 2-1 in their building with three minutes left, I think we as coaches have to have better personnel out there at that time. We were getting ready to get the goalie out and make it 2-2 but they got a third goal and that's a tough one to come back on."

Saturday afternoon's rematch once again showcased the Voyageurs' resiliency and determination in the face of adversity. The game featured several lead changes and lots of scoring opportunities, but the Kings eventually grabbed a comfortable 7-4 lead halfway through the final frame.

"The second game, I think it got away from us a little bit," said McClelland. "The turning point was it's 3-3, we're getting a five-on-three powerplay, but we don't score. They then score to make it 4-3 with a guy coming out of the penalty box which I consider a shorthanded goal. So they make it 4-3 and then the game gets out of control a little bit."

The Voyageurs grabbed hold of the rudder and righted the ship before the end of the game, however. Jonah Smith and Jett McCullum, with his second of the game, scored a little more than minute apart late in the third to make the Kings sweat a bit down the stretch. The visitors kept pressing for the equalizer in the final minute and were a hit post away from tying it with seven seconds left.

"It's a good lesson for our club to know, hey, we're still in it, man. We're still in it!" said McClelland.

While they couldn't dethrone the 10-0 Kings, the fourth place Voyageurs are encouraged by their noble effort against the undefeated league leaders. As he prepares his players for a crucial double bill November 21 and 22 against the Briercrest Clippers, who are only two points ahead of Portage in the ACAC standings, McClelland hopes to turn the previous weekend's positive vibes into victories against the visitors at the Bold Center this weekend.

"We know that we're going to be playing a tough team.," he said. "Both teams are probably going to be desperate, and you know, it's going to be whoever makes the least amount of mistakes that wins so that's what we're going to go over…We'll be ready for Friday night."

Photo Credit to RDP Athletics