Trojans hang seven on Voyageurs

Trojans celebrate a goal in their victory over the Voyageurs. Photo by Lucas Punkari.

Story by Lucas Punkari

The West Ferris Trojans were too much for the F.J. McElligott Voyageurs to handle as the Trojans dominated in a 7-2 victory at Memorial Gardens on Sunday night.

“I thought we played effectively in the third period by outworking them,” Trojans head coach Rick Mitchell said following the victory.

“We were missing a number of key players so we weren’t sure on how we would come out. But after a shaky second period where we were a little too tentative, our guys came out and finished strong in the third."

Voyageurs coach Raymond Belanger felt the loss was an indication the club still needs to make a lot of improvements.

“We’re just starting to get some bodies back from injuries and we know that we’re a bit behind the eightball right now. But championships and upsets aren’t made in November, they’re made in February and March, so we’re looking forward to it,” said Belanger.

The Trojans ended up scoring near the eight minute mark of the first period when Dylan Peddle fired a slap shot by Voyageurs netminder Cody Doucette.

West Ferris would then strike again one minute later when Stephan Devost knocked one home on the power play. Devost would pot his second of the night two minutes later, going top-shelf on Doucette, giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead after the first period.

The Voyageurs would cut the deficit down to two goals early in the second when Troy Whalley scored on a breakaway, with a backhander going past the Trojans Greg Lintner. However, the Trojans extended the lead late in the frame to three goals once again, when Devost found the back of the net for the third time in the contest.

West Ferris would continue to fire on all cylinders in the third, where they would outshoot F.J. McElligott 20-6. Peddle would first blast home a slap-shot for his second of the night at the seven minute mark to make it a 5-1 game.

Jason Lacelle would cut the lead back down to three goals with five minutes remaining. However, Cam Legett and Josh Callahan both scored within two minutes of one another to round out the goals for West Ferris.

Both teams will return to the ice on Wednesday night when the Voyageurs host the Chippewa Raiders at the Mike Rodden Arena in Mattawa for a 7:00 p.m. tilt. West Ferris will also be in action at that time when they face off against the St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Bears at the Memorial Gardens. The game will mark the first time both teams have played one another since last’s year NDA finals, which the Bears won in three games.