Portage Terriers

The Portage Terriers picked up their 7th win in a row on Saturday night coming back to beat the Neepawa Titans 3-2.

The game started slowly with a pair of penalties being handed out to the Terriers. Neepawa’s Dean Noonan then went to the box for interference and the Titans capitalized during the 4 on 4 play. Mason Hartley ended the Terriers' shutout streak at 235 minutes and 36 seconds when he beat Bailey Monteith on a partial breakaway.

The Portage Terriers haven't let up a goal in their last eleven periods of play. The Dogs finished their three-game home stand with their third consecutive shutout tonight as they toppled the Neepawa Titans 6-0.

Early in the first period, Terrier goaltender Bailey Monteith made a pad save in tight but the rebound went right to the doorstep. Mason Hartley had a wide-open cage and looked to tap the puck in but it rang off the post. This was an early sign of what was to come for Neepawa, with countless chances that ended up missing the net throughout the evening.

With just nine games left in the MJHL regular season, the Portage Terriers are hitting their stride. The Dogs have won their last five games and are coming off back-to-back shutout victories.

Portage's own Ryan Botterill hit a benchmark last game, becoming the first Terrier to score 35 goals in a season since the 2015-16 season (Brad Bowles had 45).

"That feels good," says Botterill. "As a team, we need to keep winning. That's the main goal right now. We need to win a lot and get ready for the playoffs and Centennial Cup."

The Portage Terriers are back at Stride Place today for their second outing in a three-game home stand. The Dogs are welcoming the Selkirk Steelers to town tonight, who have been playing some of their best hockey as of late. 

In February, the Steelers have gone 6-0-1, with one of those wins coming against the Terriers. This recent surge has Selkirk just one point back of the Niverville Nighthawks for the final playoff spot in the MJHL's East Division. 

Portage goaltender Bailey Monteith says they know what the Steelers are capable of.

Thanks to a 30-save performance from Bailey Monteith, the Portage Terriers are winners of four games in a row. The Dogs downed the Winkler Flyers 3-0 on home ice in a very hard-fought outing.

After already killing off two penalties, Portage had their first power-play opportunity near the midway mark in the first period, and the Dogs made sure to capitalize. Mike Stubbs got the puck near the top of the circle and fired a shot into the top corner of the net on the short side. 

Ryan Botterill scored his 33rd and 34th goals of the season last night to propel the Portage Terriers to a road victory. The Terriers defeated the Virden Oil Capitals 4-1 last night to pick up their third consecutive win.

Portage Terriers forward Austin Peters is one of the three MJHL Stars of the Week. The 18-year-old was recognized for his three-goal and three-assist performance in the Dogs' last three games.

Peters scored the game-winning goal on Sunday night in a 5-4 victory against the Niverville Nighthawks with less than two minutes left in regulation.

Brandon Funk has been on fire since being traded from the Portage Terriers and is now reaping the rewards.

The 17-year-old forward has committed to Long Island University, an NCAA Division 1 program. He believes his dedication is what got him to this point.

It was another close one but in the end, it was two more points for the Terriers. In a rare afternoon game Sunday, Portage beat Niverville 5-4 thanks to a late-game goal. The two points give the Terriers a four-point lead over Steinbach in the race for the top spot in the league. The Pistons, however, have played one less game.

The Portage Terriers have seen steady contributions from some players who may not always show up on the stat sheet in recent weeks. 

The Terriers have been running with three lines of forwards due to injuries and suspensions. This has led to more playing time for players like Gavin Klaassen.

Klaassen has seven points in 16 games since he came to Portage in December, however, four of those points have come in the last three games. The 19-year-old is from Ypsilanti, Michigan and talks about what the transition has been like.