The Portage Terriers started their 2016 MJHL playoffs on the right foot as they beat the Selkirk Steelers 6-3 last night at the PCU Centre. The Terriers were well rested coming into game 1, having been off the ice since March 1st. Portage got on the board just over half way through the first period, when Adam Wowryk finished off a perfect 2 on 1 pass from Michael Knaub. It wouldn't be long before Jake Dudar for the Steelers tied it up, going post and in off the rush. Portage outshot Selkirk in the first period 13-4.

Portage would take the lead again early in the second period, as Kain Stevenson crashed the net and knocked home a juicy rebound. The Steelers would again tie it up as former Terrier Ezra Hall finished off a Nathan Park rebound on the power play. Before the second was over Brett Orr would finish off a goal mouth scramble to give the Terriers the lead heading into the third.

Terriers' Kain Stevenson bowling over the goaltender after scoring his goal

Whatever was said in the dressing room in the second intermission lit a fire under the Portage Terriers, as the top line came out and scored on the power play 32 seconds in. Nick Henry would score again less than a minute later to put the game out of reach. Brad Bowles assisted both goals, and extended his point streak to 14 in a row, going back to the regular season. Riley Derlago would capitalize on a Brett Orr giveaway a few minutes later, but it wouldn't be enough. Adam Wowryk banged home his second of the night with less than 3 minutes to play to end it. Wowryk had 2 goals and an assist on the night, and was named the 1st star. Nathan Park stopped 21 of 24 to pick up the win in net.

Terriers' Head Coach Blake Spiller says they were out played at times by their opponents.

"I thought they had the jump on us here early at times, and we just seemed to be a little bit rusty. But give them credit, I thought they played really well here, and made it really tough on us. They definitely came to make a statement and I thought they played really well."

Portage now leads the best of 7 quarter final 1-0, and will play game two Sunday in Selkirk starting at 7:30. The game will be broadcast on CFRY and portageonline.com starting with the pregame show at 7:20 pm.