The Portage Terriers annual rookie game saw 9 goals scored, with only one in the Terriers' favour. The Dogs iced a lineup consistening of all rookies, including two players who are 15, against the Oil Capitals who dressed four 20-year-olds.
The first frame saw 22 shots directed on goal, but only four from the Terriers. Virden scored a pair of goals that Portage was unable to respond to in the frame, making it 2-0 Virden after the first period.
Declan Siwicki would score early in the second frame to make it 2-1, but despite doubling their shot output to 8 in the frame, Portage would finish the frame down 7-1.
The Terriers would manage three more shots in the third period, but the score would only see Virden add one more to their tally. 8-1 would be the final score in the Oil Capitals favour.
Assistant Coaches Robby Moar and Brock Trotter managed the bench for the game. Moar notes that the game wasn't really about the result, and more about testing the players wills against stiff competition.
"We were mostly looking for the compete level, see if it is consistent the whole way through. for a bunch of young guys that kind of had their first real experience at this level, it was challenging for them, but I think they did the best they could."
Moar adds that the team will improve with more experience through the preseason.
"I think we just, the more we get closer to the start of the season, the more excited we get," Moar says. "Obviously, there's still some things that have to happen around here, but as we get really wrapped up here towards the start, we'll we'll eventually start feeling better ourselves and have some better results than we did today."
The Dogs will be back in action Wednesday night in Virden as they wrap up the home-and-home series at Tundra Oil and Gas Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.