Billet brothers & bonding: junior hockey in small-town Manitoba

Every year, hockey players across Canada and the United States leave their hometowns to play hockey in different regions. The Portage Terriers often host a large percentage of their roster with billets in Portage and the surrounding area. Many of these players are from cities or towns a great distance from the central Manitoba region. Among those players this year is Parker Scherr, who was acquired from the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Terriers third period the difference against the Blues

The Portage Terriers started slow but finished strong as they beat the Winnipeg Blues 7-3 on Sunday night.

Penalty trouble was the downfall of the Terriers in the first period. Every time Portage found the back of the net the Blues responded with a power play goal. Terrier captain Tayem Gislason was moved to forward for the game, but was on the blueline for the power play when he opened the scoring with his 9th of the season. Evan Gradt made a nice move off the wall and snapped a shot past Jayden Catellier seven minutes later.

Terriers shoot down Flyers' winning streak

The Portage Terriers got back in the win column Wednesday night, narrowly beating the Winkler Flyers 2-1 at Stride Place. The Terrier win ended the Flyers 8-game winstreak. A penalty would get the Terriers in trouble early in the first period, as Parker Scherr was assessed a minor for interference just under 4 minutes into the game. 

On the ensuing powerplay, Flyers forward Trent Penner opened the scoring. He found himself wide open on the doorstep, and tapped home his 20th goal of the season.

Terriers talk MJHL-SJHL showcase

The Portage Terriers have five players and a coach attending this year's MJHL-SJHL showcase in Winnipeg. The rosters were announced on Tuesday, January 16th, on the MJHL's website. The representatives are captain Tayem Gislason, his partner on defence Parker Scherr, forward standouts Slade Stanick and Nolan Nenow, and Owen Witt will be manning the blueline for the 18-and-under team. Assistant coach Robby Moar will also be behind the bench for the 20-and-under team wearing red.

Gislason says it's nice to be honoured with a selection.

Terriers lose tight contest against Pistons

The Portage Terriers lost 2-1 to the Steinbach Pistons on Friday night. The Terriers got their lone goal from Cam Bullinger, who snapped a wrist shot home from between the faceoff dots.

Noah Szabo score both goals for the Pistons from similar areas on the ice. The smooth-skating defenseman scored two goals, both in the area between the ringette line and the blueline with traffic in front of Jayden Catellier, giving the Terrier netminder little chance to stop the puck. Both of Szabo’s goals were scored on the powerplay.

Portage anticipates big game against Pistons

The Portage Terriers are warming up for another contest against the Steinbach Pistons. 

Steinbach has won 4 of the 5 meetings between the clubs so far this season.

The Terriers have scored a combined 9 goals through those 5 games and are looking for more offense in tonights game. The defense has also struggled, allowing 24 goals against Steinbach so far.

Portage has added another win to their win streak after their 8-3 victory on Wednesday over the Winnipeg Blues.

Terriers late effort adds accolade to Spiller's resume

The Portage Terriers' head coach Blake Spiller caught a milestone with the 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Freeze on Friday, January 12th. The win was the 670th of his career, tying the MJHL's all-time win's record by a coach.

A slow start cost the Terriers in the first period. A jam play at the side of the net resulted in a goal for the Freeze, scored by Peyton Allard, with an assist from Ashton Cuvelier.