A tough game on Friday night paved the way to a much tighter matchup on Saturday afternoon for the hometown Voyageurs. And while Friday saw the boys in white lose 7-4, the Voyageurs stormed back securing a much-needed point on Saturday to keep them near the top of the league.
“It wasn’t the weekend we were hoping for, but we’re only one point out of first place,” said head coach Terry Ewasiuk.
Saturday’s game had several storylines as a number of key Voyageur players were battling the flu and battling the refs in a game that featured some very questionable calls.
“It was by far worst officiating I have seen this year,” Ewasiuk said.
The game set up an even tighter matchup on Saturday afternoon that saw the Voyageurs dig deep and grind out a tie with the Trojans.
“Everyone in the dressing room knew that the key to Saturday’s game would be discipline,” Ewasiuk said.
Saturday’s game saw coach Ewasiuk start big 6’8 behemoth Jordan Lane and Voyageur’s all-time penalty minute’s leader Matt Gray to send a message to visiting SAIT Trojans. The plan worked as the Trojans stepped back and let the Voyageurs dictate the play. After a scoreless first period, the teams traded second period goals setting up a thrilling third period.
“You could see the desperation on the faces of our guys,” Ewasiuk said. “They somehow found the energy to battle to the very end.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO CONCORDIA
With four games left in the first half of the ACAC season and potentially 8 points up for grabs. Ewasiuk figures that to remain in first place, the team will need to pull at least 5 out of the possible 8 points.
A big matchup with the Concordia Thunder may be just what the doctor ordered for the flu-ridden Voyageurs. The Thunder sit in the bottom four teams in the league and Ewasiuk knows that in order for this team to stay with the leaders, they need to take care of business this weekend.
“We know this is a series we can win, it’s just a matter of making fewer mistakes this weekend and staying disciplined,” Ewasiuk said.
