LAC LA BICHE – Sometimes good things come in threes – but sometimes, the bad stuff comes in trios too. The Portage College Voyageurs suffered their third loss of the season Friday night at the Bold Center, giving up three third period goals to the visiting Augustana Vikings and eventually succumbing 4-3. The Voyageurs had played two immaculate periods, outshooting their Camrose-based opponents 28-18 and leading 2-1 heading into the final period.

"We went out and played hard," said Voyageurs Head Coach Kevin McClelland after the exciting and well-played contest. "We outshot them both periods and we went into the third period with a one-goal lead. That game should be over and done with. It's just disappointing that they come out with a 4-3 win."Gerrik Ripley, Jack Hamly, Austin Kozluk and Tanner Manz scored for the Vikings while Brayden Dale, Ty Budaj and Voyageur Player of the Game Logan Spence replied for the home team.

McClelland noted that while the Voyageurs held the Vikings to five shots in the third period, some untimely breakdowns led to his players having to fish pucks out of their net."We've got to make better plays and better decisions in those situations," he said. At the same time, the head coach found lots of positives from the game. In years past, the Voyageurs might have been blown out of the rink once the opposition started scoring but so far in 2021, the squad has been in every game right up until the final whistle. But while they seem to be on the cusp of victory, McClelland knows that final step is sometimes the toughest one to take.

"We want to make sure in those situations that we learn how to win and not learn how to lose because that can go the other way pretty quickly," he said. "You know, we did enough to win tonight but we just didn't get the win." The Voyageurs will try again for their first win of the season next Friday when they travel to Red Deer to take on the Kings.

-David Paul