The Portage Terriers hit the ice for the first time this preseason in an all rookie matchup against the Virden Oil Capitals. Despite scoring first and having a 4-2 lead late in the third period the Terriers ultimately fell 5-4 in regulation.
It was a game focused on scouting and development with no returning players on the ice. Brett Magarrell played 10 games for the Terriers in the playoffs last year as an affiliated player and looked like a veteran in this game. He opened the scoring midway through the first.
Brett Magarrell splits the D, takes it wide and fires it upstairs for the @PortageTerriers in preseason action earlier tonight 👀🫡 pic.twitter.com/98Kc0KKWB4
— #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) September 13, 2023
Virden responded a few minutes later and it would be a back and forth game through the second period.
In the third period Portage’s 2023 first round pick, Reece Gault, scored on the power play and Nik Jones scored shortly after to make it 4-2 with less than six minutes to play.
The Virden rookies didn’t give up as they scored three straight goals to win the game.
The Terriers will now cut down the lineup to get ready for their second preseason game on Thursday against the Neepawa Titans at Stride Place.
