Portage Terriers

The Portage Terriers picked up their fifth win of the season on Wednesday night, beating the Niverville Nighthawks 3-1 on home ice.

The Portage Terriers are back in action after a tough game that was a lot closer than the score suggested in Winkler.

The Dogs were downed 6-2 by Winkler, following back-to-back shutouts against the Winnipeg Freeze and Swan Valley Stampeders.

Portage will look to even up their record again today when they take on the Niverville Nighthawks for the first time this season at Stride Place. 

Niverville currently boasts a record of 5-4-0-0 but have lost their last two games, a 1-0 loss to Northern Manitoba and a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Steinbach Pistons.

Thae game was much closer than the score indicated however the result was the same as the week before. For the second straight Sunday, the Portage Terriers fell to the Winkler Flyers, whose win streak has now reached four games.

The Portage Terriers and Winkler Flyers will meet for their second matchup of the season, exactly one week after their first.

Winkler won the initial matchup 4-1, as Portage could convert only once on eight powerplay opportunities, while giving up three goals during their six penalty kills.

The Terriers penalty kill is riding a hot streak to go along with goaltender Mitchell Kathler's back-to-back shutouts. Kathler has stopped 38 shots in the last two games, but will undoubtedly see more than the average of 19 he has faced in the previous games.

Another outstanding offensive performance led the Terriers to a 6-0 victory over the Swan Valley Stampeders. Offence came from throughout the lineup with four players scoring their first goal as a Terrier.

The Portage Terriers will take on another opponent for the first time this season with a matchup against the Swan Valley Stampeders. After sweeping the season series last year, Portage looks to even up their record this year with another win.

Swan Valley has had a slow start to the season this year, only one win in eight games thus far and only 14 goals to their credit.

The Portage Terriers’ offence came alive last night as they beat the Winnipeg Freeze 8-0 at the Hockey For All Centre in Winnipeg.

Chances came early and often for Portage as they outshot the Freeze 16-5 in the first period. Winnipeg goalie Braxton Burdeny played well and only let in one goal from Nolan Nenow. 1-0 Portage after 1.

The play opened up in the second period with three straight goals for the Terriers. Two from Cam Bullinger and one from Koy Funk. For Funk it was the first of his junior career. 4-0 Portage after 2.

Hockey runs in the family for Koy Funk, who has taken to the ice four times as a member of the Portage Terriers this season. Funk hails from Portage la Prairie and is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Reilly, and father, Kelly. Koy says that it's been nice to see the community standing behind him.

A rocky start to the season has the Portage Terriers 2-4-0-0 so far, but a game tonight against the Winnipeg Freeze could get them closer to evening up their record.

The Freeze have yet to record a win this season, however, the Freeze have faced the MJHL-leading Selkirk Steelers twice, along with a single matchup against the Steinbach Pistons and the Niverville Nighthawks.

Portage comes into the game with two wins in their last five games, coming against the Dauphin Kings on the road, and at home against the Neepawa Titans in a shootout.

Tristan Gravenor and Emrick Paradis travelled from Quebec to Manitoba in September to test their chops against junior hockey talent in the province. The two players have found a place on the roster in Portage, each getting into action in the early going of the regular season.

Gravenor hails from Montréal and says the adjustment has gone pretty well.