Portage Terriers

Fans flooded the ice after the Portage Terriers first ever skills competition. Players skated around, signed autographs and chatted with fans as they prepared for the playoffs, beginning March 21.

Scott Cousins and Team Black were named the champs after sweeping the fastest skater competition. However, the contest did remain close, as Decker Mujcin tallied the hardest shot, registering at 88 miles per hour, and Team Green won the relay after a mistake by Cousins.

He adds that his team helped him out in that respect.

A massive crowd was on hand to witness the Portage Terriers final regular season game, a losing decision to the Niverville Nighthawks, 4-2.

A physical first period saw a couple special teams goals, as Niverville scored the first one on the powerplay. But Portage would answer with a shorthanded goal, as South Dakota product Breck Hirrschoff knotted the game up. Despite some hooks and holds on the way to the net, Hirrschoff found the puck with the Nighthawks goalie out of position, and slipped the puck into the net. 1-1 after 20 minutes.

The Portage dropped their final regular season game of the year on Wednesday night 6-3 to the Niverville Nighthawks.

There wasn’t much on the line for both teams as the Terriers are locked in third place and the Nighthawks in fourth. This allowed the Terriers to give increased minutes to some different players including “AP” call up Tyler Kendall who made his MJHL debut on the blue line.

As a successful season winds down toward the playoffs, several Portage Terriers were nominated for league awards and all-star teams.

Head Coach and General Manager Blake Spiller notes that each guy has been a big part of their solid start.

"It's always good for guys to get recognized by their peers. Obviously, Scherrsy (Captain Parker Scherr) and Mitch (Mitchell Kathler) will be a big part of our team here going forward with playoffs starting in the next couple of weeks."

The Portage Terriers ended the Winkler Flyers’ 10 game winning streak on Sunday night beating them 2-1.

The game started fast and physical with Winkler playing their typical brand of tough dump and chase hockey. The Terriers jumped out to an early lead when Decker Mujcin tucked home a short handed goal. Despite getting hemmed in for most of the period, Portage would score again when Rhett Platt finished off a nice one-timer from Breck Hirrschoff. 2-0 Terriers after 1.

Story from Portage Terriers Marketing Director, Cody Buhler

A solid effort from top to bottom lifted the Portage Terriers over the Winnipeg Blues on Wednesday night 5-1.

Playing one forward short, the Terriers were able to roll all four lines all night. Winnipeg started the game strong and kept Portage on their heels. Midway through the first Cam Bullinger scored his 20th of the season on the power play to open the scoring for Portage.

The Portage Terriers dropped their final matchup of the season against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on home ice, by a 5-3 score.

A bad bounce and a poorly directed pass resulted in Waywayseecappo scoring a pair of goals in the first, while Portage was unable to answer. 2-0 Waywayseecappo after 20 minutes.

A team effort from the Portage Terriers propelled them to a 3-1 win over the Niverville Nighthawks on Wednesday night. Ryan Velan stole the show in net, stopping 43 of the 44 shots he faced for his 13th win of the season.

Portage started the game with five of their normal forwards out of the lineup, and two affiliated players: Lawson O’Ray and Finley Titterson. For O’Ray, it was his first game in the MJHL.

A tightly contested matchup between the Portage Terriers and the Northern Manitoba Blizzard went the Dogs' way by a score of 2-1 on Friday night.

Just before the halfway mark of the first period, Grant Dardis put a long shot through traffic on goal, and beat the Blizzard netminder. The goal would stand as the only one in the frame. 1-0 Portage after 20 minutes.

A miscue by the Terriers in the neutral zone gave Northern Manitoba a break, which Miguel Bouvier converted to tie the game at 1. The score would not change from there in the second period.

Down by two heading into the third period, the Portage Terriers came back to beat the Virden Oil Capitals 5-4 on Wednesday night at Stride Place.

Virden opened the scoring early in the first period when Terrier goalie Ryan Velan coughed up the puck behind the net and Marshall Light put it into the empty cage. Will McKay responded for Portage minutes later snapping a wrist shot past former Terrier goalie Gavin Renwick. Before the first was done Liam Goertzen blasted home a wrist shot on a two on one. 2-1 Oil Capitals after 1.