MIRROR-IMAGE WEEKEND – VOYAGEURS SPLIT HOME AND AWAY SERIES WITH AUGUSTANA

LAC LA BICHE & CAMROSE – It was a tale of two cities – and two hockey games – for the Portage College Voyageurs February 14 and 15. To borrow but reverse the famous opening line from Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities: it was the worst of times, it was the best of times.

Even though their record hasn't reflected it, the Voyageurs have been competitive in most games this season, battling to the bitter end and making their opponents earn their victories. And while close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, the season has provided evidence that there is light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not an oncoming train).

On Valentine's Day at the Bold Center, though, there wasn't much love in the air. it was the worst of times. The home squad played one of their worst games of the season, losing 5-2 to Augustana and leaving their usually even-keeled coach seething after the clash. The highlight for the Voyageurs came early in the game, as Tye Evans opened the scoring with a screen shot from just inside the blue line 29 seconds into the game. It didn't take Augustana long to change the narrative and for some frustration to boil over on the Portage bench.

"We started out 1-0, real good, and then all of a sudden we start getting a couple of goals scored against us and guys start getting on each other on the bench and it just tears our team apart," said a frustrated McClelland after the game.

The coup de grace was likely the Vikings' Conrad Phillips finding the back of the net with 0.1 seconds remaining int the opening frame. Although they've overcome two goals deficits many times this year – particularly with 40 minutes left in the game – the Voyageurs seemed listless after the first, even after a pep talk from the coaching staff.

"That third goal was a killer," said McClelland. "And still, we discussed it between periods, we're down two goals but our team's been like that before. And then we go out and give up two quick ones."

Indeed, the Vikings scored 31 seconds into the second and added another 44 seconds later to take a commanding 5-1 lead, forcing McClelland to pull starter Ethan Shebansky and put in Tressor Wotton. With regular starter Luke Hall out for the season and Shebansky unavailable for the rematch in Camrose on Saturday, the head coach stressed that the last thing he wanted to do was make the goalie switch.

Despite all that, the Voyageurs still had another opportunity to claw their way back into the game. Down 5-2 with a little over five minutes remaining, the home squad enjoyed more than a minute of 5-on-3 time but couldn't make anything of it. McClelland was critical of himself for not calling a timeout prior to the two-man advantage.

"We've got to call a timeout and get our five best players on there…We might be able to get two on there and make it 5-4 so again, it's everybody involved," he said. "We've just got to be better."

Saturday night in Camrose, they were. Much better. It was the best of times. The Voyageurs improved their defensive play and found their scoring touch, besting the Vikings 6-4 in their own barn. It was a team effort, with six different players finding the back of the net and Wotton holding down the fort in goal.

"Saturday was a lot better. We had a lot more contributors," said McClelland a couple of days after the rematch, noting that the Voyageurs can score goals when they can dress their full roster.

With two games left in their season (a pair of home games against the Red Deer College Kings), the head coach is hoping the good vibes and good play from Saturday night carry over into the upcoming weekend.

"We're a team that can score, we've just got to make sure we defend and I thought we did a good job of that on Saturday night," said McClelland. "But give the guys credit…You know, we've had a difficult season and losing here on Friday night and going in there on Saturday night and getting a win, kudos to those guys."

Feb. 14 Players of the Game

• Augustana: #17 Nico Gallo
• Portage: #23 Mason Beck

Before the game, graduating forward Isaak Watters was presented with a framed picture and given a round of applause from fans, coaches and players alike for his time with the Voyageurs.

Feb. 15 Players of the Game

• Portage: #21 Tye Evans
• Augustana: #19 Jayven Leslie