Terriers Start WCC With A Win

The Portage Terriers opened their Western Canada Cup on the right foot on Sunday as they beat the Battlefords North Stars 5-3. It was a quick turnaround for the SJHL champions as they had played the night before against the host Penticton Vees.  

The game began slowly for two Terriers. Cody Thompson and Takato Cox were on the ice too long during warm-up and were assessed 10-minute misconducts to start the game. Portage showed some rust early in the first period; they had been off 10 days since their Turnbull Cup win over OCN. The North Stars jumped out to the lead 5:08 into the first period. The puck came to Ben Allen in the slot and he fired it low glove side past Kurtis Chapman. Portage settled down as the period moved along and started to get some chances of their own. Shots on goal were 13-7 in favour of Battlefords after 20 minutes. 

The momentum started to swing towards the Terriers in the second period. Chase Brakel tied the game halfway through the frame tipping home a Mackenzie Dwyer point shot. Portage would take their first lead of the game six minutes later on the power play. Dwyer had Ty Enns' point shot bounce off his leg into the net.

The power play was key for Portage and contributed again in the third period. Takato Cox dumped the puck into the zone and as Joel Gryzbowski came out of his net to play the puck it bounced off a stanchion into the slot. Brakel was in the right spot and banged it into the net for his second of the night. Seven minutes later Dwyer extended their lead to three. The puck came to him and the side of the net on the power play and he put it into the top of the net.

The fourth goal seemed to wake up the North Stars. As a Terrier penalty expired Connor Logan deposited a goal mouth scramble. Battlefords scored again 1:13 later. Keaton Holinaty fired a shot off the arm of Chapman that trickled into the net. As the period wound down the North Stars took a hooking penalty which killed their momentum. Enns picked up his third point of the night scoring on the empty net.

Portage finished the game 3-5 on the power play. Chapman made 28 saves on 31 shots. Brakel and Ben Allen were named the players of the game. The Terriers play again Monday night at 9 pm (Manitoba Time) against the BCHL representative, the Chilliwack Chiefs. They lost their first game Saturday afternoon 5-2 to the Brooks Bandits. You can catch the pregame show on CFRY and Portageonline.com starting at 8:50 pm.

For the complete box score click here.