It was a rare loss for the Portage Terriers Sunday night at Stride Place. The team was hoping to wrap up a successful weekend with a win over Swan Valley but the Stampeders spoiled the party with a hard-fought 6-4 victory.

The Stamps would open the scoring 6:29 into the game but Brandon McCartney replied for the dogs 24 seconds later with his second of the year. The defenceman would finish the night with 2 goals and assist and currently leads the team in scoring with 22 points on the season. The Terriers scored one more in the opening frame to take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room.

The second period belonged to the Stamps and despite only getting six shots in the frame, Swan Valley would beat Terrier netminder Jayden Catellier three times and had a 4-3 lead after the middle stanza.

The Stampeders kept their foot on the gas to open the third as Justin Keck opened the frame with his 11th of the year just 49 seconds in. The Morris product is 7th in league scoring with 24 on the season. The Stamps would add one more before the mid-mark of the frame before Terrier forward Ryan Botterill made the score a little more respectable with a power play goal at the 9:59 mark. The Terriers finished the game going 2-3 on the power play while killing off the two penalties they took. The shots were tied at 28 for each team. Austin Peters had a three-point night for the Dogs with a goal and two assists.

The loss spoiled what could have been a perfect weekend for the club. The staff and players were a part of the very successful sports dinner and auction on the ice surface of Stride Place on Thursday and followed that up with a 2-1 lead in Steinbach Friday. The loss leaves the team with a 16-4 record which is identical to Steinbach. The two teams are tied for the top spot in the league.

The team is now off until Sunday when they host Virden, but 14 of their players will take part in the prospects showcase at Stride Place Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

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