Portage Terriers

The Portage Terriers game on Saturday night in OCN ended in overtime, but not because of a goal but due to a player injury. The Terriers and Blizzard were tied at three and halfway through overtime when Blizzard forward Drayden Kurbatoff was hurt. Due to the nature of the injury, it was decided that the remainder of the game would be finished at a later date. 

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.

The Portage Terriers lost their first game of the season Sunday night, 5-2 to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Special teams was a big factor for Waywayseecappo who went 3/7 on the power play. Offence was hard to come by for Portage who got outshot 41-29 and were 0/9 with the man advantage. 

The 2021/22 MJHL season was the first full season for the Terriers coming out of the COVID cancellations, but it was far from “normal”. Vaccine and mask mandates were in place for most of the year and attendance was restricted to 250 fans for a series of games in January. The Terriers also missed the playoffs for the first time since 1986.