Voyageurs WIN in OT!

LAC LA BICHE –  Fifty shots…five goals…four periods…and, most importantly, A WIN! For the first time in a regular season game in nearly three years, the Portage College Voyageurs were able to savour the sweet taste of victory, besting the visiting Briercrest Clippers 5-4 Friday night in an overtime thriller. Thomas Colter notched the winner 50 seconds into the extra period to give the Voyageurs their first regular season win since March 2, 2019.

A week after he was critical of his hockey squad – particularly about their lack of success on special teams – Head Coach Kevin McClelland was all smiles after his players notched two powerplay goals and added a shorthanded marker for good measure.

"Special teams are such a big part of the game nowadays and tonight they worked out well for us," said McClelland. "The guys worked hard. It was a bit of a hard work week that they had but they all sucked it up and they got through it and got rewarded tonight so all the credit goes in that room with those guys."

The game was not without drama. With the Voyageurs leading 4-2 midway through the third, Briercrest potted two quick ones, tying the game on a powerplay with less than three minutes remaining in the third. McClelland admitted that he worried he was watching a familiar movie.

"When Briercrest tied it up 4-4 I was just going in my mind, 'O my God, here we go again' but the boys found a way to win," he said.

Isaac Barr, with two goals, and Portage Player of the Game Brayden Dale, with four points, led the way for the Voyageurs while Briercrest Player of the Game Dominik Tmej helped keep Portage at bay, stopping 45 of the 50 shots he faced. 

As the crowd filed out of the Bold Center, the sounds of celebration could still be heard emanating from a jubilant Voyageurs dressing room. McClelland was happy to let his troops celebrate the moment but also cautioned that they didn't have much time to enjoy the victory with a rematch less than 24 hours away.

"Tomorrow at 1 o'clock we've got to go out, tighten up the chin straps again and do the same thing," he said. "Nothing's guaranteed, especially in this league so we've got to work twice as hard tomorrow because that team's going to come back at us. But if we compete and we work together, we'll be fine."

Players of the Game

• Briercrest: Dominik Tmej (45 saves)
• Portage: Brayden Dale (1 goal, 3 assists)