LAC LA BICHE – What’s the longest word in the English language? Smiles – it has a mile between the first and last letters. Members of the Portage College Voyageurs Men’s Hockey Team were all smiles on Friday night, after they notched a 3-2 Double Overtime WIN over the visiting Briercrest Clippers in ACAC Exhibition Hockey at the Bold Center.
It had been quite the voyage – many miles in fact – between Voyageur victory celebrations. A winless season followed by a season wiped out by a global pandemic meant that it was their first hockey action of any kind in 609 days and their first win – exhibition or otherwise – in 973 days. For the 10 returning players from 2019-2020, the victory was especially sweet.
Jordan Picard a 3rd year Forward from Timmins, Ontario comments that “It feels unreal to be back.” He goes on to explain that “After not playing for a while it definitely made us hungrier. . . and we couldn’t have asked for a better start than to WIN back-to-back games against a great team like the Clipper.”
When asked about what he thinks these two wins mean for the team heading into the regular season. The 3rd year returning 3rd forward Brayden Dale from Quesnel, British Columbia expresses “I believe that this weekend’s success will help with our confidence heading into the regular season.” Dale also expressed that “It means a lot to get back out on the ice after being away for so long you could really feel the anticipation in the room. And winning both games is just a bonus.”
Perhaps fittingly, the Voyageurs had to really work for the win, playing not one but two five-minute overtime periods, the second one three-on-three. Newcomer Ty Budaj notched his second of the game with 59 seconds left in the game to seal the win while returning goalie Jacob Gnidziejko was solid between the pipes. Shane Sherban potted the other marker for Portage.
Saturday afternoon at the Bold Center, the Voyageurs showed that the previous night’s win was no fluke, notching three markers in the third period with the brother tandem of Brayden Dale & rookie Brody Dale both scoring in back-to-back shifts in the 3rd while Jordan Picard closed the scoring with only 1:35 left in the 3rd allowing the Voyageurs to skate away with a 5-2 win over the Clippers. Rookie goaltender from Stoney Plain, AB, Luke Hall, was sensational in net, stopping 53 of 55 shots while rookies Nick Gidney & Logan Spence also scored their first goals as Voyageurs on this night.
Coach Kevin McClelland says “it’s always nice to start off with a couple wins going into a season. With all the time between games it's great for the guys to come out the way they did and get these wins.” McClelland also expressed how proud he was of the guys “they found a way to come away with the wins . . . Especially the first game after being down 2-0” These guys have “no quit in them and worked hard right to the final buzzer.” McClelland closed by saying that “confidence is huge in anything you do in life and hockey is no different. It's great for the guys to see that their hard work paid off and It’s a lot more fun coming to the rink when your winning.
The Voyageurs look to build on their positive momentum on Friday Nov. 12 when they Host the NAIT Ooks in the Home Opener at the Bold Center. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Fans are Welcome to attend in person, However Everyone must wear a mask and maintain social distancing requirements.
*Attendance is limited to 1/3 Capacity