Defenseman Cody Thompson controlling the blue line. (Photo by Marvin Buhler) The Portage Terriers clinched fifth place last night as they fell 5-2 to the Steinbach Pistons. The game was closer than the score indicated with the final two Piston goals coming in the last three minutes, and one into an empty net. The Pistons opened the scoring in front of their hometown crowd early in the first period; Danny Pion slid one under Kurtis Chapman from a sharp angle. Ty Barnstable responded for Portage 1:03 later with his 11th of the season. Spencer Kuhlman had his point shot stopped but Barnstable was able to knock home the rebound. It was a physical first period with Portage taking six minor penalties and Josh Martin a 10-minute misconduct. The Pistons would score late in the frame on the power play to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Bradley Schoonbaert tucked it home at the side of the net. The Pistons increased their pressure in the second period but it was Portage who scored first. Layne Toder notched his 11th of the season with the man advantage. He had a "seeing eye" shot find its way just inside the post. Steinbach would get their crowd back in the game when they retook the lead minutes later off a Jordan Bochinski one-timer. Sokoloski gets ready for the faceoff The teams would exchange chances through the second and late into the third. Nick Doyle took a penalty with four minutes left in the third on which the Pistons would capitalise; Schoonbaert finished off a one-timer in the slot. Pion would score his second of the night on the empty net to put the game out of reach. With the loss, the Terriers are no longer able to climb ahead of OCN in the standings and will finish 5th. They will play either OCN or Selkirk in the first round, depending on the outcome of the OCN vs Steinbach game tonight. The Terriers will play their final game of the season on Sunday in Waywayseecappo at 3:30 pm. The game will be broadcast on CFRY and Portageonline.com with the pregame show starting at 3:20 pm.  

The Terriers held their Dog Pound Cash Draw Lottery drawing last night at their last home game of the season.  And the winners are… $250 Ken Boyachek $500 Mo Mcleod $1000 Ransom Albrecht and Kelly Anderson $10,000 Grand Prize Winner – Geoff Roy Thank-you to everyone that purchased and sold tickets to support the Portage Terriers and congratulations to our winners!

League Awards waiting to be handed out. MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis was on hand last night to hand out the league awards earned by this year's Terriers. First up earning the Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship Award was Jeremey Leipsic. Jeremey sits atop the scoring race where he's been all season averaging 1.7 points per game earning just 12 penalty minutes in 58 games played to date. Jeremey also earned a spot on the first All Star team. Also earning All Star team nods were Chase Brakel for the 2nd All Star Team and runner up for the MVP award and Layne Toder for the Rookie All Star Team. Mark Killam was up next to hand out the award for Fan Favorite as voted on by the fans and sponsored by the Portage Co-op and the award went to Jeremey Leipsic. The last award for the evening was the Liquor and Lotteries IMPACT Player of the month for February presented by Jason Bond. Jeremy Leipsic picked up the award earning 20 points  in 11 games The Terriers Ladies Auxiliary will be having their annual Awards night banquet this Saturday at the Canad Inn. Please contact Jean or Colleen for tickets if you are interested in attending. Colleen 204-856-2727 or Jean 204-856-3719

Celebrating Dwyer's one timer game winning goal. The Terriers played their final home game of the regular season last night in front of their biggest crowd to date this season at Stride Place. It was an exciting overtime win to excite the crowd after a slow twenty minutes in the second. Portage jumped out to an early lead on Swan Valley with a powerplay marker from Layne Toder who banked in a point shot off Brett Evans' pad. The one goal lead held through the first frame. Fighting for the last playoff spot, the Stampeders came out with some jump in the second and scored their first just :29 seconds in when Navrot buried a bullet over the glove of Brock Aiken to tie the game at one. A minute later, Leblanc took advantage of the screen in front to find the back of the net and take over the lead. Denying the Terriers an even up goal with the extra attacker late in the period, the Stamps’ Jameson found the net glove side on the two on one with 2:40 to go in the frame for a 2 goal cushion. "We weren't really winning many battles and didn't seem to be competing. Really, no one was playing very well in the second," admits Paul Harland, Terriers assistant coach. "It was a nice crowd here and we wanted to make sure we gave a good effort in the third period to get ourselves back in the game. We started getting pucks to the net and playing harder. We got some shots, banged a few in to get it to overtime, then capitalized on a powerplay to get the win." The Terriers came out in the third with a little more drive and energy. James McIsaac skyed one on Evans on a backdoor pass from Brakel. Barnstable tied the game with just over 7 minutes to go with his 10th of the year from Enns and Sokoloski. With  :41 left on the clock, Cohan took a cross checking penalty for Swan Valley. The game remained tied after regulation, but the Dogs started overtime with the man advantage. 1:17 in to the extra frame, Swan Valley picked up another minor when Jameson was sent to the box for high sticking. Mackenzie Dwyer scored the game winner with a one timer from the point that popped the lid off the water bottle and sprayed the glass with water. It was a fitting end to the regular season at home. The Terriers head to Steinbach on Friday to face the first place Pistons, then finish up the regular season in Wayway on Sunday.

This year's graduating players Ryan Hendrix, Riley Thiessen, Josh Martin and Carter McMurdo. It was the Portage Terriers Awards Banquet tonight at the Canad Inns in Portage la Prairie. Terriers’ Forward Jeremey Leipsic was the big winner of the night taking home 3 individual awards. Top Scorer, Sportsmanship with Ability and Fan Appreciation voted on by the fans and awarded on ice at the last home game. 16 year old Layne Toder picked up the nod for Rookie of the year while Chase Brakel picked up MVP. Graduating player Ryan Hendrix was also a multi award winner picking up, Outstanding Team Player and the Community Spirit Award. Below are all of tonight’s award winners Rookie of the year – Layne Toder Best Defensemen – Riley Thiessen Most Improved Player – Cody Thompson Top Scorer – Jeremey Leipsic Most Valuable Player for Central Plains – Cody Thompson Best Defensive Forward – Ty Barnstable Sportsmanship with Ability – Jeremey Leipsic Community Spirit Award – Jared Roy, Ryan Hendrix and Ryan Sokoloski Best Defensive Defenseman – Kain Stevenson Outstanding Team Player – Ryan Hendrix Most Valuable Player – Chase Brakel Fan Appreciation – Jeremey Leipsic Geno Romanow Award of Dedication – Mike, Mackenzie and Kate Jordan Veteran Awards Riley Thiessen – 2 years Ryan Hendrix – 2 years Carter McMurdo – 1 year Josh Martin – 1 year    

http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/news_article/show/763428?referrer_id=1498173 The Portage Terriers will not lock down the No. 1 seed this season as they have done the past two years. However, one thing has not changed – they prepare to end the post-season with the MJHL’s leading point man in their arsenal. Jeremy Leipsic has been nothing short of spectacular in his first full season with the Terriers. The Winnipeg native, who played for a year and a half in the BCHL to start his junior career, is closing in on 100 points as the regular season winds down. After 57 games, he has 32 goals and 97 points. Terrier teammate Chase Brakel and Mackenzie Graham (Steinbach) round out the top three with 79 and 78 points, respectively. “I don’t think there’s one thing I can put my finger on,” said Leipsic on his success this year. “I am just trying to bring my ‘A-game’ every game, and that’s worked for myself. And having a line mate like Chase (Brakel) for most of the year, I’ve been able to develop some chemistry with him, and that’s showed on the ice.” The big reason for Leipsic’s lead atop the scoring race is his ability to get goal-scorers the puck. His 65 helpers are 19 better than Graham, who is also second in that category. Leipsic’s aforementioned line mate Brakel, not surprisingly, is tied for the lead as the top goal-scorer this year with 34. OCN’s George King is also sitting on 34 heading into the weekend. “I’ve been a playmaker more than a goal-scorer most of my career,” said Leipsic. “I think my vision has always been one of my strengths, and I think that plays a big part in me getting a lot of assists.” The 19-year-old Winnipeg native was part of Portage’s championship last year, and knows what it’s like to enter the post season as the favourite. That isn’t going to be the case this year – the Steinbach Pistons are the top seed, and the Terriers are likely to enter the playoffs as a strong No. 5 seed, depending on what they do with their games in hand, and how the three teams tied for second place – Winkler, Selkirk and OCN – fare down the stretch. But the Terriers are hungry for a franchise first – a three-peat. And with the top scoring forward in the league, you never know what might happen in a playoff series. “We’re quite a different team from last year – we have more younger-guys, especially on the back end,” said Leipsic. “We’re not the overwhelming favourites, but our coaching staff is going to have everyone ready come playoff time, so we’re looking forward to the challenge of being the underdog this year.” As for next season, Leipsic has one year left of junior eligibility, and he said he plans on returning to the Terriers and continue working towards a NCAA scholarship – a goal he hopes he will be closer to after potentially winning the league scoring race and having a long and productive playoff run. “I haven’t looked too far ahead, as I have one more year (of eligibility) left, but as far I know I’ll be back in Portage next year and earn myself a scholarship soon.”

20 Questions with Cody Thompson Age: 17 Hometown: Killarney Favorite sandwich: Grandma’s Crustless Bologna Stranded on a desert island, you can bring one person: Shaquille O’Neal Fave App on your phone: Super Mario Run Last Movie You Saw: Hot Rod Nickname: Tommy If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead: Kate Upton One bad habit you have: Cracking my knuckles A song you would sing at karaoke: Sweet Caroline Something that would surprise people about you: Voice of an angel If you could be someone else for a day: Will Smith Who is your biggest hockey influence: My Dad Describe yourself in one word: Tall Your biggest accomplishment thus far: Winning SMAAAHL last season Fave Cartoon growing up: Spongebob If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport? Baseball What animal best represents you? Bull Who would play you in a movie? Vince Vaughan Top of your bucket list: Travel to Europe with my dog. Thanks Cody!

Nick Doyle celebrates his first goal of the season. Portage finished off the home and home with Neepawa last night at Stride Place with a 5-3 win, picking up 3 out of 4 points on the weekend. After being denied by Guttenberg in the shootout the night before, Ty Enns scored the first of the game bar down on the powerplay. Neepawa’s Richards tied things up a minute later finishing a pass from Justin Metcalf. Nick Doyle regained Portage's lead when he went top cheddar for his first goal of the season. Before the period ended the Terriers were awarded a penalty shot for Neepawa’s Blondeau covering the puck in the crease. All star rookie, Layne Toder took the shot and, but hit the post. The frame ended with the Dogs up by one. Neepawa was quick to tie the game in the second on the powerplay, Richards picking up his second of the game. Turner Santin would bang home a loose puck to give the Terriers back the lead. McIsaac then added to the Terrier lead finishing off a Leipsic pass in the slot scoring the eventual game winner. 4-2 Portage after forty minutes. Neepawa’s Malcolm cut the lead in half early in the third finding the back of the net on Brock Aiken. With less than 5 minutes to go in the game, Thorsteinson picked up a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing Jeremey Leipsic. McIsaac scored his second of the night on the powerplay for a 5-3 Terrier final. The Terriers last home game is this Wednesday when they play host to Swan Valley. It is also Rain Cheque night! Any unused ticket from this season will get you in the door. We will also be drawing for the $10,000 Cash Prize from our Dog Pound Lottery. There are still a few tickets left if you haven’t picked yours up yet. You have a 1 in 325 chance of winning. Call Heather at 204-870-1210 to get yours.

Neepawa celebrates the shoot out win and picks up 2 important points as they fight for the last playoff spot. The Terriers got off to a great start in Neepawa last night leading the Natives by 2 in the first with goals from Jeremey Leipsic, but the Natives who are fighting for their playoff lives turned things up. Leipsic scored early on a breakaway with a nice pass from Spencer Kuhlman that he made no mistake in burying on Guttenberg 5 hole. At 14:42 Leipsic picked up a rebound and with the goalie out of position, made the most of it scoring his second on a wrap around for a 2-0 Portage lead. Before the period ended, former Terrier Josh Sielsky tucked home a shot short side on Chapman cutting the lead in half before the end of the first. Over halfway through the second Brendan Kochanski tipped a pass from Jared Roy that found the back of the net and restored the 2 goal Portage lead, it wasn’t for long though as Neepawa came back scoring 3 – Schultze x 2, Metcalf, before the period expired and led for the first time in the game. Aiken replaced Chapman in net after the tying goal. Natives’ Captain Buchanan added to Neepawa’s lead early in the third and the fans were loud. Fighting to get back in the game Toder and Barnstable contributed goals to tie the game at 5, where it would stay through regulation and 3 on 3 overtime. It would take 9 rounds in the shoot out to decide the winner with Neepawa coming out on top and Chwaliboga playing hero. The Terriers welcome the Natives to Stride Place tonight for the last game of the home and home. They will be looking to avenge last night's loss. Puck drop 7:30pm.  

The MJHL announced their League Award Winners this morning along with the All Star Teams. Jeremey Leipsic picked up the Hockey Ability – Lorne 'Windy' Lyndon Trophy. The MJHL website had this to say about Jeremey. Jeremey Leipsic, Portage Terriers. The native of Winnipeg currently leads the MJHL scoring race, and is hoping to add that award to his accomplishments. He currently has 93 points (30-63) in 55 games. At 5-foot-8, Leipsic is highly skilled and can make plays at a high speed. Leipsic, 19, is hoping to earn a college scholarship. His older brother, Brendan, plays with the Toronto Marlboros (AHL). Leipsic was also named to the First All Star Team as a forward. Chase Brakel was named to the 2nd All Star Team and as a forward and Layne Toder the Rookie All Star Team as a defenceman. Click the link below to see all award winners. http://www.mjhlhockey.ca/news_article/show/761260?referrer_id=1498173