The Portage Terriers were defeated in game number one of the regular season tonight. They were taken down 6-4 by the Winkler Flyers in a game that had a very intense finish.

The first goal of the game came in a very weird fashion as the puck was thrown in front from behind the net and it took an odd bounce before finding its way into the back of the Terriers goal.

Portage responded not too long after as local forward Jaden Pashe found forward Austin McLean who sniped a shot just under the crossbar for the Dogs' first goal of the new year.

Late in the first, Justin Svenson had the puck for Winkler and took it behind the Portage net. He went all the way around before he fired a quick backhand shot that snuck past Terrier goalie Chris Fines. The Flyers ended the first with a 2-1 lead.

With just over five minutes left in the second period, Derek Wiebe extended the lead for Winkler. Trent Sambrook and Daniel Isaak picked up assists on the play. Flyer veteran Jaden McCarthy brought the lead up to three later in the frame with a shot that went off the post and into the Dogs' net.

Just before the halfway point of the third period, Portage was on the power-play. They took a shot that went off the glass and bounced right to McLean who scored the first two Terrier goals of the season. 4-2 Flyers.

Despite spending a plethora of the period in the penalty box, Portage was able to create some offence late. Jaden Pashe made a move to get into the offensive zone and beat the Flyer's goalie with a little over three minutes left in the game. Defenceman Tyler Dodgson came down the ice and tied the game up less than a minute later, giving the Terriers hope. However, McCarthy answered for Winkler 40 seconds later making it a 5-4 contest. Fines left his net to bring on the extra attacker but Winkler scored on the empty net with seconds left to play which brought the final score to 6-4.

The Terriers will look to redeem themselves tomorrow night in their home opener which will be a rematch with the Flyers. Puck drop is set for 6:30 at Stride Place.