Eight Portage Terriers hit the ice yesterday in Winnipeg for the first day of the MJHL/SJHL Showcase. The best players from each league were split into six teams to put their talent on display in front of scouts from the NCAA to the NHL.
The first game of the day saw SJHL 20U Gold defeat MJHL 20U Red 4-1. While no Terriers were able to get on the scoresheet in this one, defenceman Hayden Lacquette and Kian Calder were paired together, and Portage's leading-scorer Ryan Botterill shared the ice with two Waywayseecappo Wolverines, Boone Mathison and Carson Baptiste.
The following contest was between MJHL 20U Black and SJHL 20U White. The opening goal was put home by the top goal-scorer in the MJHL, Lucas Brennan, with Terrier assistant captain Brandon McCartney being credited with an assist.
#MJSJ23 | @BSUBeaversMHKY commit, Lucas Brennan of the @selkirksteelers gives Team 20U MJ Black a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/Tkfq7wtZWN
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) January 31, 2023
MJHL 20U Black built the lead up to 2-0 in the second as Steinbach's Davis Fry picked up a power-play marker, with McCartney dishing out his second helper of the contest.
#MJSJ23 | @HurstMensHockey commit, Davis Fry of the @MJHLPistons gets one to go at the side of the net to give 20U MJ Black a 2-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/bz53FxKFP8
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) January 31, 2023
McCartney added one more assist later in the period, which ultimately led to a 4-0 victory for the MJHL squad. Terrier forward Daniel Siso was also a part of MJHL 20U Black playing on a line with Tyson Smith of the Selkirk Steelers and Josh Paulhus of the Winkler Flyers.
The MJHL/SJHL Showcase saved the best for last on day one as far as competition goes. MJHL 18U White nearly came back against SJHL U18 Blue, going into the third period down 3-1 but dropping the battle 5-4.
Terrier forward Austin Peters chipped in on the first goal of the game, and Dogs' defenceman Jordan Murray started off the scoring in the final frame.
#MJSJ23 | Jordan Murray (@PortageTerriers) follows up a great effort from Luke Janus (@BluesWpg) to bring Team 18U MJ White within one! pic.twitter.com/MumAsVx7hU
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) February 1, 2023
Day number two of the MJHL/SJHL Showcase kicks off today at 11 a.m. at the Seven Oaks Sportplex in Winnipeg.