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Ryan Velan tends the goal in his MJHL debut, a 4-2 win over the Steinbach Pistons (Photo credit: Portage Terriers/portageterriers.com)
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Ryan Velan tends the goal in his MJHL debut, a 4-2 win over the Steinbach Pistons (Photo credit: Portage Terriers/portageterriers.com)
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A gutsy effort led the Portage Terriers to a 4-2 victory over the rival Steinbach Pistons on Saturday night.

There was plenty of action in the first period, as Portage notched three goals, three different ways.

With seconds gone in a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice, Wyatt Dreger stripped one of the Steinbach players and went on a two-on-one with Decker Mujcin. With a couple bounces in front of the net, the puck wound up in the goal, credited to Mujcin.

Following a delay of game penalty against the Pistons, the Portage powerplay got a chance to operate. Seven seconds after the faceoff, Adam Belzil ripped a shot on goal that beat the Piston's netminder cleanly, making it 2-0 Portage.

Finally, Tristan Gravenor found a rebound in front that the Piston's netminder couldn't get to after some scrambly play in front of the net. Gravenor tucked it home for his fourth of the season to make it 3-0 Portage, where it would stay to the end of the period.

Steinbach would answer with a powerplay goal in the second period, after several penalties caused an extended period of less than five-on-five. A shot from the point got just over the pad and below the glove of the Terrier goalie, and made it 3-1,for Portage.

A wild scene unfolded late in the second period as Koy Funk was sent to the penalty box for delay of game. On the ensuing powerplay, Pistons captain Noah Szabo wound up and one-timed a shot just over the goal, shattering a pane of plexiglass behind the net, which initiated an early second intermission.

The game would resume with 3:28 to go in the second period. Steinbach would score another goal on the powerplay as the Terriers got stuck in their own zone, and the Pistons would punish them with a tough angle shot that made it 3-2 to end the second period.

Ryan Velan, in his first game in the MJHL, stopped 25 of 27 through 40 minutes, and said, despite the opponent, all he tries to think about is his side of the ice.

"I don't get too focused on my opponent. I'm more just trying to play my game. No matter the opponent, I'm gonna play my game every time."

The third period would see Jacob Michelson score a powerplay goal to make it 4-2, where it would stay.

Michelson says he feels that in spite of the great contest, they are still making improvements to their game.

"We're coming together as a team, the chemistry is building. The past few games, each powerplay, each penalty kill, each shift, I think we're getting better, riding the highs and lows. I'm excited for where this team can go, and it's only up from here, I feel."

The Terriers won't get much of a break as they return to action against the Virden Oil Capitals on Sunday, October 20 at Tundra Oil and Gas Place at 7 p.m.

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