Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
LAC LA BICHE, Alta. – Rookie forward Zach Webb broke out with a five-point performance and rookie goaltender Thomas Davis recorded the first shutout of his university career as the MacEwan Griffins crushed the Portage College Voyageurs 8-0 on Saturday night.
The win pushes MacEwan's winning streak to six games as they keep pace with NAIT and Red Deer College in the race for top spot in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference standings. MacEwan (9-3-0-0) sits third, three points behind RDC (10-1-1-0) and four back of NAIT (11-1-0-0).
A night after levelling the Voyageurs 8-1 at home, the Griffins teed off again as 12 different players hit the scoresheet, including Webb, who led the way with a goal and four assists.
"Zach Webb had a really strong game tonight," said Griffins interim head coach Sean Ringrose. "He was making plays and made a couple of really nice passes on some goals.
"Payton McIsaac had a couple goals tonight again. He had a really solid game."
McIsaac entered the weekend still looking for his first ACAC goal and left the two-game set with four of them. He also added two helpers on Saturday for a four-point night.
Rookies Kole Gable and Jordan Taupert recorded a goal and an assist each, while Cameron Reagan, Brett Smythe and Joseph Karpyshyn also scored for a Griffins team that has now produced 66 goals through the first 12 games – tops in the league.
"It was good to see us put up some goals again, but I was really encouraged we were able to shut them down defensively and not really allow them to create a whole lot," said Ringrose.
"Our penalty kill was strong in that regard again. It was encouraging to see on a night after you put up a bunch of goals that the commitment to defence the next night is still there. Guys weren't trying to cheat offence or take the easy way."
Leading the way on the defensive end was Reagan who had a strong game. He also scored a memorable goal – MacEwan's fifth of the game late in the second period – when he put a shot through traffic off the post and in.
Davis was strong on the other end, making 20 saves for his first ACAC career shutout.
"He was good when called upon," said Ringrose. "Tommy looked solid in the net the whole night."
Next up for the Griffins is a rematch of the 2018-19 ACAC final as they head into a home-and-home series against cross-town rival NAIT – Friday (7 p.m., NAIT Arena) and Saturday (6 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both games on ACAC TV).
