The Portage Terriers picked up their seventh straight win Friday night, beating the Swan Valley Stampeders 5-2. A hot start and a dynamic power play were key elements in the road victory.
Brayden Kiesman made an instant impact in his Terrier debut. The 20-year-old forward was acquired earlier in the week from the Nipawin Hawks (SJHL). He scored his first goal less than two minutes into the game on the power play. The Stampeders responded with a 5-on-3 goal by Jordan Keck.
Kiesman didn’t slow down. He banked one in off a defender and then scored another on the power play to complete the hat-trick in the first period. His linemate Kaden Kohle, who was also playing in his first game as a Terrier, scored on the power play late in the first to make it 4-1 Portage after 1. The Terriers outshot the Stampeders 18-3.
The second period evened out and got physical with finished checks and scrums after the whistle. Neither team was able to score and it remained 4-1 Portage after 2.
Swan Valley got back to within two goals early in the third, but Ryan Botterill scored on a breakaway to return the Terrier lead to 3. Bailey Monteith shut the door the rest of the way and Portage hung on for the win. The Terriers finished the night 3/4 on the power play.
Portage now heads up to OCN for a match against the Blizzard tonight. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CFRY and Portageonline.com.