KINGS PUT AN END TO VOYAGEURS’ DREAM SEASON

RED DEER – The heavy metal band Black Sabbath once recorded a song that included the line: "The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams."

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings played the part of lead singer Ronnie James Dio last weekend, dashing the Portage College Voyageurs' championship dreams by sweeping their second-round best of three playoff series two games to none. The host Kings blasted the Voyageurs 8-2 on Friday night and then bested them again by a score of 6-3 24 hours later. The result means Portage's dream season is over while the three-time defending champs are off to the finals once again, this time versus SAIT.

The well-rested Kings, who had a first round bye while the Voyageurs slugged it out with the Briercrest Clippers the previous weekend, didn't roll out the royal welcome for the visitors on Friday. Instead, they came out hungry, chasing starting goalie Jackson Miller after 20 minutes and building a 5-1 lead.

"We were playing a good team and they were hungry. They came at us pretty hard," said Head Coach Kevin McClelland. "They had a lot of shots on net in the first period (19) and you know, we didn't give Miller a lot of help there. We were chasing it the whole night and obviously the score, 8-2, was not an indication of how we've been playing this year."

Jack Jarvis, on a first-period penalty shot, and Ethan Ably, with the game well in hand for the Kings in the third period, scored for the Voyageurs. McClelland also used the opportunity to give Ethan Barron his first taste of playoff action and the goaltender responded well, stopping 22 shots. It also gave Miller a chance to recharge his batteries, with regular tandem partner Tresor Wotton nursing an injury.

The move paid off, as Miller was stellar in net Saturday night. After falling behind 2-0 early in the second frame, the Voyageurs, as they have all season, battled back to tie the game at three by the end of the period. Captain Xavier Halterman, playing what turned out to be the final game of his illustrious ACAC career, scored twice while Carson Devine added a single marker.

"We put Miller back in and he played a great game on Saturday," said McClelland. "We got it to 3-3 and then just a couple of soft plays around our net there cost us….If that hadn't happened, who knows? Maybe we're going to a game on Sunday."

In the third, Holden Knight sandwiched a goal in between Alex Bernauer's second and third tallies of the night to put the game – and the series – out of reach for the visitors. Afterwards, the disappointment was clear on the players' faces, even for those watching at home on ACAC TV or at a watch party at in the Portage gym in Lac La Biche.

"The guys, they were great this year and I know they were disappointed but you know, I think it's a positive year for them and the College for sure," said McClelland, who's already hard at work planning next year's roster.

It's impossible to argue with the four-time Stanley Cup Champion on that front. The Voyageurs had their best-ever season in 2025-26, finishing in fourth place to make the playoffs for the first time in 12 years and winning a playoff round for the first time in their history. For McClelland, who's endured 0-28 seasons and worked countless hours to rebuild the program, the satisfaction comes from seeing not only his players succeed, but also the whole Portage College community rally around the student athletes.

"There's so many great people that work at that college," he said. "You know, I talk highly of it all the time when I get on Edmonton Oilers radio shows and stuff like that. It's such a great place to come and play for these athletes. I mean they're getting great schooling…To be able to go to a place like this and get a great education and obviously play hockey at the same time is unbelievable. It's a hidden gem as far as I'm concerned."

Players of the Game

March 6

Portage: #10 Jack Jarvis

Red Deer: # 74 Holden Knights

March 7

Portage: #13 Xavier Halterman

Red Deer: #19 Alex Bernauer

Photo credits to RDP athletics staff.