The Voyageurs felt like it would be David versus Goliath as they entered a two-game homestand against league-leading SAIT last weekend, said head coach Terry Ewasiuk, but Portage tackled the giant and won against 5-1 Friday night and tied 5-5 on Saturday.
Friday’s game wa a physical match, said Ewasiuk, but the Voyageurs were able to get three goals in during the first period of the game, with players Matt Foster and Taylor Morgan scoring two goals within minutes of each other. Defenseman Kirk Moore scored his first goal of the season late in the first.
“We knew we had to capitalize at the beginning of the game,” said Ewasiuk.
The second period saw the only goal from SAIT and Voyageurs Cory Giroux scored late in the period, bringing the score to 4-1 by the end of the second.
The third period saw another goal scored by Matt Foster sealing the first season loss for the Trojans.
Ewasiuk credits the “exceptional” game play partially to the goaltending, with goaltender Justin Borsa saving 28 out of 29 shots during Friday’s game.
Voyageurs tie on Saturday
The home game on Saturday was a little different for the Voyageurs, who were down 3-1 in the first ten minutes of the first period, the complete opposite of Friday night’s game.
“We knew they were going to come out hard and try to physically take control of the game early,” said Ewasiuk.
SAIT were able to score their fourth goal later in the first, so the Voyageurs decided to switch out goalie Dallas Ungurian for goalie Justin Borsa.
The mood of the game changed for the Voyageurs after they changed their goalie halfway through the first and the local hockey team got a “boost of energy,” said the coach. Defenseman Shawn Shackleton and forward Chris Glen both scored a goal, bringing the score to 4-3 for SAIT.
The second period saw one goal for each team, bringing the score to 5-4 with SAIT still in the lead.
Then late in the third period, Jeremy Weasel Moccassin scored the last goal of the game, with a 5-5 final score. The game went into overtime but both teams were unable to put it in the net.
When the game ended, there “was a loud roar of applause for the Portage players as the fans showed their appreciation for a very entertaining game,” something Ewasiuk has never seen but was happy to hear.
