Clippers double up Voyageurs

LAC LA BICHE – This time, there was no silver lining. The Portage College Voyageurs have had a tough season but have always given their opponents hard-fought games and battled until the final buzzer. On Friday night at the Bold Center against Briercrest, there was not a whole lot to smile about. 

On RBC Make Some Noise for Mental Health night, the Clippers quietened the home team and the home crowd, besting the Voyageurs 4-2. After the game, Portage Head Coach Nate Bedford gave a blunt assessment of the match. 

"Briercrest was better than us in every area," he said. "They had a greater effort and were way more prepared to play the game tonight than we were. It's disappointing." 

While they finished strongly and peppered Briercrest goalie Dan Dekoning with 18 shots in the third, a listless first period and some not-so-special teams cost the Voyageurs dearly. The Clippers player of the game Reagan Poncelet netted a natural hat trick – including a shorthanded marker – while the Voyageurs finished 0 for 8 on the power play. Jordan Picard and player of the game Brayden Dale scored for the home squad but it wasn't enough to overcome an early 2-0 hole. Bedford noted that Briercrest was full marks for the win. 

"They blocked shots, killed penalties and scored goals in dirty areas," he said. "They did everything right." 

The Voyageurs at least won't have to wait long for another crack at the Clippers. The two teams go at it again on Saturday afternoon at the Bold Center.  

"Here's hoping for a better result tomorrow," said Bedford.