THUNDER ROLL TO IMPORTANT VICTORY

LAC LA BICHE – Brandon Wallis scored three goals and the Concordia Thunder rode a strong first period to defeat the Portage College Voyageurs 4-2 Friday night at the Bold Center. Isaac Leik added an empty-netter and Griffin Bowerman made 24 saves as the Thunder all but snuffed out the Voyageurs playoff hopes.

Coming into the night, the Voyageurs were needing to almost run the table in their four remaining games in order to catch Concordia for the final playoff spot, particularly with the Thunder holding two games in hand. It promised to be an exciting and close hockey game. And it was – at least for the final two periods.

The first was a different story. The Thunder stormed the Voyageurs' net, firing 17 shots at Alex Brousseau and beating him twice. Meanwhile, Portage managed only five shots the other way. To make matters worse, the second Concordia tally was sniped by Wallis on a shorthanded breakaway.

To their credit, the Voyageurs fought back, as they have all season. Brayden Dale scored on a 5-on-3 with eight minutes remaining in the third and brother Brody Dale scored another powerplay marker three minutes later to make things interesting but the Voyageurs couldn't find the equalizer. Wallis was named Player of the Game for Concordia while Brayden Dale was given a similar honour for Portage. The two teams go at it again in less than 24 hours in Edmonton.