September 25
Virden, MB – The Portage Terriers were victorious when the CJHL season ended last May, and they started off the 2015/2016 season in similar fashion with a 4-1 win over Virden Saturday night.
The Bowles brothers picked up where they left off in 2014/2015 combining for 3 points. Shawn with a goal and Brad with a pair of assists.
The Oil Caps didn’t get the started they wanted when just 36 seconds in, the Terriers opened the scoring.
They would add another late in the period to take a 2-0 lead into the first break.
Portage would make it 3-0 early in the middle frame when Kyle Carter snapped home his first of the season.
Virden got on the board just moments later, Nolan Ross scored his first of the season from Dalke and Speiss.
That would be all the life the Caps could muster as the Terriers put the game away in the third. Keaton Leininger picked up his first MJHL goal to seal the deal.
Sean Kuehn made 22 saves in the Oil Caps net while Nathan Park turned aside 25 shots in his Terriers debut.
The two clubs will meet again on Sunday at PCU Centre in Portage as the Dogs celebrate their RBC Cup Championship by raising the banners to the rafters.
Game time is 6:30, the Pre-Game show with Branden Crowe and Ryan Potter begins at 6:20 on Game Time Radio.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
PTG – S.Bowles (1) (Henry, B.Bowles)
PTG – Haiskanen (1) (Weston, Carter) PP
2nd Period
PTG – Carter (1) Brakel, MacKey
VOC – N. Ross (1) Dalke, Speiss
3rd Period
PTG – Leininger (1) (B.Bowles)
Final Shots: 30-26 Portage
Special Teams: PTG 1/4 VOC 0/6
Attendance: 1223