NO POINTS IN STANDINGS FOR VOYAGEURS DESPITE IMPRESSIVE SHOWING VERSUS LEAGUE LEADERS

LAC LA BICHE – Close but no cigar. Hmmmm, maybe the Portage College Voyageurs should take up smoking.

Head Coach Kevin McClelland's troops put up strong showings against the ACAC powerhouse Red Deer Polytechnic Kings during two games at the Bold Centre last weekend but came away empty handed on both occasions, losing 2-1 Friday night and 6-3 Saturday afternoon. The three-time defending champion Kings showed why they're still the class of the league in '25-26, scoring timely goals, playing strong defensively, and excelling on special teams. And yet the Voyageurs, battling for their playoff lives, were with their royal visitors every step (or skate stride more accurately) of the way.

"I mean we're playing a really good team there and the guys, you know you gotta give 'em credit for sure," said McClelland after the Saturday match. "They battled hard. You know, I thought they battled hard last night and I thought they came out and battled again today."

There was certainly a lot to like. The goaltending was solid, with Tresor Wotton making 36 saves on Friday night and Jackson Miller stopping 45 on Saturday. Aidan Taylor, Tye Evans and Jonah Smith were a dynamite line all weekend, generating all kinds of scoring opportunities and potting three of the four Voyageur goals. And, as always, the never-say-die Voyageurs battled to the final buzzer in both contests.

At the same time, there are no moral victories at this time of year. Some untimely turnovers and ineffective special teams proved costly, with the Voyageurs going zero for the weekend on the PP while giving up three goals on the penalty kill.

"They have guys over there that can score and we didn't capitalize on our chances and at the end of the day, that's what happens," said Captain Xavier Halterman on Saturday. "We didn't get any goals on the powerplay and they had three this afternoon and at the end of the day, that's three more goals than we scored so we've gotta bear down offensively."

With four games remaining in the regular season – two on the road versus a surging Briercrest squad and then a home and away series with Concordia which will likely settle everything – both the head coach and the captain emphasized that the Voyageurs need to play desperate hockey if they hope to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

"We know that we can," said Halterman. "We split against both teams…in the first semester and now we just have to up our desperation. It's a new set of weekends and it's new teams so we can expect that effort is going to be there from them. So you gotta make sure that you bring your own effort."

Players of the Game

February 6

RDP: #10 Tanner Sklaruk

Portage: #31 Tresor Wotton (36 saves)

February 7

RDP: #12 Nolan Doell

Portage: #19 Aidan Taylor (2 goals)