PORTAGE, Sept. 26, 2025 – A dead-even battle took extra time for the Portage Terriers first matchup of the season against the Steinbach Pistons, with Portage escaping with a 1-0 victory.
An even first period saw chances both ways, but the netminders stood tall, stopping all 15 shots in the first. 0-0 after 20 minutes.
A major penalty in the second period would leave Steinbach at a player disadvantage, and a second penalty to the Pistons didn’t help, but the score remained 0-0 through the second frame.
Another period came and went without a goal, and despite a late powerplay, the Terriers held off the Piston’s attack into overtime.
Steinbach would get a couple great chances near the middle of overtime, but Owen Witt would clean up a rebound, carry it the length of the ice, and put the puck away for a 1-0 victory.
He notes the decision was pretty easy to just take the rush.
“I saw the puck squeak out, and my first thought was to skate as fast as I can, so I did that and had an opportunity.”
The goal is Witt’s third of the season in as many games, tying him for first on the team with Rhett Platt.
Goaltender Ryan Velan pitched his first shutout at the MJHL level, and said despite some challenges, it felt good to get it done.
“I think we did a really good job keeping the game pretty tight, throughout the first two periods, especially,” he continued. “I feel like I had opportunities to do it last year, but it ended up working out.”
The Portage Terriers are back on home ice on Sunday against the Winkler Flyers. Puck drop is at 6:30pm. Sunday will be the orange shirt game in support of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
