LAC LA BICHE - The Portage College Voyageurs are hoping a weekend off will break a two-game losing skid that started their Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference season.
The Voyageurs have kept their regular practice schedule over the last week, despite not playing this weekend. The team's last games were their first two of the regular season, played on home ice on Oct. 13 and 14 against visiting Briercrest. The Voyageurs were blanked in the first game 5-0, and lost the second game 5-3.
The Friday night game didn't draw much on the scoreboard for the home-team, but it did draw fans to the Bold Center arena for the game and a "welcome- back" burger barbecue.
The extra week without game pressure may also help the team to recoup, as the Saturday match saw a lot of physical play.
Penalties were in an abundance during game, with the Voyageurs’ Leighton Desjarlais and Briercrest’s Jacob Dale and Zachary Thususka each being handed a 10-minute misconduct.
Voageurs goalie Alex Brosseau was in net for both games, facing 29 shots in the first game and 31 in the second.
The Voyageurs will be heading to Red Deer on Oct. 27-28 to face off in two away games against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings.
Early in the 2023-24 season, the Voyageurs are tied for last place with the Kings in the seven-team ACAC league. The Red Deer team is last year's league champion.
The Voyageurs' next game on home ice is Nov. 3 when they face the SAIT Trojans. The 7pm puck drop starts the first game of a home-stand weekend, with the second game playing on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
*With Rob McKinley
