Ooks Fall to Voyageurs
February 7, 2023
The Nait Ooks hosted the last-placed Portage Voyageurs in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday night.
The Ooks got off to a blistering start in the first minutes, controlling possession in the offensive zone. They generated high-quality chances off the rush using their speed and quick puck movement through the neutral zone. Voyageurs' goaltender Alex Brosseau was up for the task making multiple great saves to keep it knotted. Portage capitalized on their first powerplay opportunity on a beautiful goal from Ty Budai over the glove of Ooks goaltender Taryn Kotchorek. The Ooks were quick to respond, tying things up at one on a powerplay of their own. Josh Lazowski banged home his first of the season on a backdoor feed from Dylan Stewart. The Ooks weren't done there, as they scored a similar goal moments later. Ooks captain Brayden Lawson finished off a feed from Colin Schmidt to make it a 2-1 hockey game. Lawson wasn't satisfied yet, as he was hauled down on a breakaway a few minutes later and awarded a penalty shot. He made no mistake firing one past the blocker of Brosseau. Near the end of the first, Ty Budai scored his second of the frame cutting the Ooks lead to 3-2 heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Voyageurs came out flying. The bounces were trending in their favor early, as Voyageurs Captain Brayden Dale picked up the bouncing puck and made a silky toe drag past Drae Gardiner to slide it back door to tie things up at three. Seconds after the equalizer, Brody Dale Found Brayden Dale in the slot, and he ripped it low glove on Kotchorek to give the Voyageurs a 4-3 lead early in the middle frame. Kotchorknek got the hook, and Ryley Osland came in relief. It gave the Ooks a spark as they were pressing for the equalizer. The Ooks had a couple of powerplay opportunities but couldn't capitalize. It wasn't until late in the period when Eric Lacombe found a loose puck in the crease and elevated it over the shoulder to even it up at four. That was short-winded, as Brody Dale broke in on an odd-man rush, and electing to keep it, he fired one past the blocker of Osland to restore the Voyageurs lead. Portage leads 5-4 heading into period three.
In the third period, It was a leisurely start for both clubs until the Ooks started to play, desperate for the tying marker. After multiple desperation stops from Brosseau, Bjorn Robinson was finally able to convert, ripping it under the blocker at the midway point of the third. Voyageurs Ty Budai found a loose puck in the neutral zone, beat his check to the net, and got a lucky bounce before sliding over the line, which seemed to be the story all night long for the Ooks. Budai's hattrick goal stood up to be the game-winner. The Voyageurs grabbed one late on the powerplay and an empty netter in the last minute to steal this one from the Ooks on the road 8-5. Ooks fall to 8-6-3 while the voyageurs grab their first win of 2023.
The rematch, scheduled for Saturday night in Portage, puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.