Chapman earns the shut out with 29 saves. File Photo Despite bad weather and slippery roads, the Terriers made their way to Selkirk and picked up the win in game 5. Kurtis Chapman earned the first shut out of this series in net for Portage with a 3-0 final over the hometown Steelers. Sokoloski was the first to score redirecting a McIsaac point shot past Dola just past the halfway mark of the first. Josh Martin received a 4 minute minor for spearing with 3 minutes to go, but the Terriers were able to shut down Selkirk’s powerplay and head to intermission up 1-0 outshooting the Selkirk 14-8. With :12 to go in Martin’s minor, Sokoloski picked up a 2 minute penalty for high sticking. Portage killed both penalties and 18 seconds later Barnstable doubled the Dogs lead scoring unassisted on the breakaway with 2 great moves beating Dola. Portage would hold their 2-0 lead with the help of some timely saves in net by Kurtis Chapman. Both teams would trade opportunities in the third, but Chapman earned the shut out making 29 saves and Leipsic would score his second empty netter of the post season for a 3-0 Terrier final. Coach and GM Blake Spiller talked about getting some of the bounces we weren’t getting earlier in the series and playing tough defensively shutting down Selkirk’s biggest offensive weapons. The Terriers have tomorrow off and will practice Sunday before hosting game 6 of the Quarterfinal series Monday night at 7:30pm at Stride Place. The Terriers lead the series 3-2 and have a chance to close out the series on home ice.

Celebrating Ryan Sokoloski's eventual game winning goal. Portage tied the series at 2 tonight at Stride Place with a 4-1 win over Selkirk. It wasn’t the best start for the Terriers with Selkirk’s Hillis knocking home a rebound just 1:25 in to the first on the powerplay. Ty Barnstable tied the game halfway through the period making no mistake burying a pass from Josh Martin for his second of the post season. Portage took over the lead when Ryan Sokoloski’s shot found the back of the net through traffic with 1:13 to go in the period. Portage ran in to some trouble in the second picking up 4 minors. The Dogs were strong on the penalty kill and held Selkirk to just 7 shots and hanging on to their one goal lead. Selkirk’s Pruden took a minor for interference in the third giving the Terriers’ their first powerplay of the game and they weren’t about to waste the opportunity. Ty Enns scored his third of the post season rocketing a one timer from Riley Thiessen past Dola sending the water bottle flying. With 1:25 to go in the game, Selkirk pulled their goalie looking to make something happen, but Jeremey Leipsic slammed the door shut scoring the empty netter for a 4-1 Terrier final. Kurtis Chapman picked up his first win of the post season making 26 saves on the night. Game five goes Friday night in Selkirk at 7:30pm with Game 6 back at Stride Place Monday evening.

Selkirk took a 2-1 lead in the MJHL Quarterfinal series tonight over Portage with a 2-1 final. The Terriers lacked intensity in the first period tonight at the Selkirk Recreational Complex.  Selkirk was able to strike first when Halvorsen picked up a puck on a turnover and went in alone on Kurtis Chapman scoring his 3rd in this series. Connor Barley would double Selkirk’s lead finishin his own rebound with just 51 seconds left to go in the first for a 2-0 lead  Portage came out in the second finishing checks and throwing pucks at the net, but just weren’t getting the bounces. Ty Enns netted Portage’s only goal burying a pass from behind the net from Josh Martin. Portage outshot Selkirk 14-5. Once again the dogs were unable to convert on their chances and Selkirk played a defensive third. Chapman took the bench with just under a minute to go, but the extra attacker didn’t factor and the Steelers take the lead in the series. Chapman records the loss making 21 saves on the night and Portage went 0 for 2 on the powerplay. Game 4 is tomorrow night at Stride Place, game time 7:30pm.

20 Questions with Takato Cox Age: 19 Hometown: Redondo Beach Favorite sandwich: Club Stranded on a desert island, you can bring one person: Bear Grylls Fave App on your phone: Snapchat Last Movie You Saw: The Big Short Nickname: Tak or Coxy If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead: Bill Gates One bad habit you have: Biting Nails A song you would sing at karaoke: Thinking Out Loud Something that would surprise people about you: Can speak Japanese If you could be someone else for a day: Connor McDavid Who is your biggest hockey influence: My Dad Describe yourself in one word: Friendly Your biggest accomplishment thus far: Playing for the Terriers Fave Cartoon growing up: SpongeBob If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport? Soccer What animal best represents you? Elephant Who would play you in a movie? Steven Yeun Top of your bucket list: Winning a Championship Thanks Tak!

Halvorsen scores his second of the postseason. The Terriers gave up a two goal lead in game 2 at Stride Place last night to bring the Quarterfinal series to a 1-1 tie with Selkirk. Portage kicked off their post season at home with some intensity. Ty Barnstable opened the scoring late in the first period with his first of the playoffs. Sokoloski and Toder picked up assists on the play. The Terriers led after 20 minutes. Nathan Halvorsen tied the game for Selkirk potting a loose puck on the powerplay. A few minutes later Ty Enns stole the puck in the offensive zone and beat Hayden Dola with a nice shot regaining the Terriers’ lead. With his 3rd of the postseason, Josh Martin later buried a rebound in front to double Portage’s lead. Despite having the man advantage, the Terriers turned over the puck at their own blue line and Connor Barley took advantage skating in alone on Brock Aiken with Mackenzie Dwyer giving chase, and buried it 5 hole with a shorthanded marker. The Terriers outshot the Steelers 16-6 in the second and led by one after forty minutes. Selkirk came out in the third with some urgency and were quick to tie the game with Ezra Hall tucking one in on Aiken. Steeler Captain Taylor Fisher gave the Steelers their first lead of the game scoring from the top of the circle on the powerplay. With less than a minute to go, Aiken headed to the bench to give the Terriers the extra attacker, but they were unable to get it done and the game ended in a 4-3 Steeler final bringing the series to a 1-1 tie in the best of 7 quarterfinal. Aiken made 27 saves recording the loss and the Dogs went 0 for 6 on the powerplay. Game 3 is Tuesday night in Selkirk, game time 7:30pm.

Portage celebrates the overtime win! It took 99:51 minutes and triple overtime to decide game one of the quarterfinal match up between the 4th place Selkirk Steelers and 5th place Portage Terriers. Assistant Captain Josh Martin played hero as he jammed home the winning goal just over halfway through the 6th period for a 3-2 Terrier final. Jake Dudar opened the scoring with a powerplay marker high blocker on Brock Aiken at 11:13 of the first. It would stand as the only goal of the frame. Selkirk added to their lead with Halvorsen finding the back of the net at 8:12 in the second. Just 12 seconds later Josh Martin got Portage on the board with an unassisted goal cutting Selkirk’s lead in half. With a bit of momentum, the Terriers picked it up and created more chances in front. Chase Brakel made no mistake notching his first of the playoffs on a Leipsic pass in front to tie the game at 2. With both teams trading opportunities in the 3rd, neither was able to get it done. With 3:17 left to go in the game, Ty Enns received 4 minutes for a high stick on Liam Kroeker. The Terriers were able to kill the penalty and get back to even strength in overtime. Both Brock Aiken and Hayden Dola came up with some big saves in overtime to keep their teams playing. It took a total of 40:09 extra to decide the game. Martin found himself alone in front and slapped a Barnstable pass backhand passed Dola for his second of the night and the win. Brock Aiken picks up the win in net for the Terriers making 45 saves on the night. Game Two of this series is Sunday March 12th at Stride Place, game time 6:30pm. Get your tickets early to avoid game day line ups.  

20 Questions with Kurtis Chapman Age:19 Hometown: Airdrie, Alberta Favorite sandwich: Turkey and Bacon Stranded on a desert island, you can bring one person: Bear Grylis Fave App on your phone: Flappy Golf Last Movie You Saw: Rings Nickname: Chappy If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead: Selena Gomez One bad habit you have: Being too cool A song you would sing at karaoke: Escape by Rupert Holmes Something that would surprise people about you: I’m not that weird If you could be someone else for a day: Dwayne Johnson Who is your biggest hockey influence: My family Describe yourself in one word: Funny Your biggest accomplishment thus far: Going to the Telus Cup with the UFA Bisons Fave Cartoon growing up: Looney Tunes If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport? Volleyball What animal best represents you? Liger Who would play you in a movie? Justin Bieber Top of your bucket list: Travel across the world Thanks Kurtis!

20 Questions with Brendan Kochanski Age: 18 Hometown: Winnipeg Favorite sandwich: Clubhouse Stranded on a desert island, you can bring one person: Clayton Kershaw Fave App on your phone: Boston Pizza Last Movie You Saw: 2 Fast 2 Furious Nickname: Kochan If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead: Emily Sears One bad habit you have: Grinding my teeth A song you would sing at karaoke: We are young Something that would surprise people about you: I’m not in Engineering If you could be someone else for a day: Reno Sokoloski Who is your biggest hockey influence: My Dad Describe yourself in one word: Outgoing Your biggest accomplishment thus far: Graduating High School Fave Cartoon growing up: Lilo and Stitch If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport? Field Lacrosse What animal best represents you? A mountain goat Who would play you in a movie? Zac Efron Top of your bucket list: Climb a mountain Thanks Brendan  

File photo. Jeremey Leipsic celebrating a goal in Wayway. The Terriers finish up the regular season on a high with a 5-4 win over Wayway and Jeremey Leipsic notching his 100th point with a short-handed game winning goal. Wayway opened the scoring on the powerplay with a goal from Trevor Kavanaugh.  Josh Martin tied the game at one with 2 minutes to go in the first, Barnstable and Sokoloski picking up the assists. The Wolverines’ Kavanaugh was good for 2 more in the second completing the hat trick by 19:10 for a 2 goal lead on the dogs. Ty Enns found the back of the net 30 seconds later to close the gap to one heading in to the final frame. Quintin Cubbon restored the 2 goal lead for Wayway early in the third. Barnstable and Sokoloski added markers to draw even and it looked like the game was headed to overtime. Jeremey Leipsic with 50 seconds left to go in the game and the regular season potted his 100th point with a short-handed goal. “It meant a lot to reach this milestone in the final game of the season and I’m glad it contributed to us getting the win here today. I think we’ve got a really good team and if we’re playing our best every night we will give ourselves a good chance to have success in playoffs.” – Jeremey Leipsic The Terriers will head in to the first round against the Selkirk Steelers with the dates of that series to be determined. In 6 meetings this season Portage won the first 3 meetings and Selkirk won the last 3 with Portage scoring 29 goals and Selkirk scoring 23. 

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.