The chances were there, but the goals were not as the Portage Terriers fell 6-3 on Wednesday night to the Niverville Nighthawks.
Despite the Terriers outshooting the Nighthawks 15-9 in the first period, it was Niverville who struck first. Tyler Bernier and Ryker Rougeau both found the back of the net in the last five minutes of the frame to make it 2-0 Nighthawks after 1.
Halfway through the second, Mason Chubey increased the Niverville lead to three. Portage started to show some signs of life as Matthew Campanella and Tyler Wamboldt scored a pair of goals two and a half minutes a part. It looked like Portage was poised for a comeback, but with one second left in the period Anthony Bedard finished off a 2 on 1 to restore Niverville’s two goal lead heading into the intermission.
Portage goalie Mitch Kathler’s night would be done after letting in 4 goals on 22 shots. Dane Gillis took over the Terrier net for the third period. Dexter Materi scored a beautiful goal driving to the net to start the third period, to draw Portage to within one.
Dexter Materi with a beauty for the @PortageTerriers in the 3rd!
#MJHLRoadShow | 🎥 JFlowerMedia https://t.co/YEtc8hBeDj
— MJHL (@mjhlhockey) October 15, 2026
Before Portage could build on the momentum Cole Bies scored for Niverville. That’s as close as the Terriers would get as Marlen Edwards added an empty net goal to finish off the night.
Both teams struggled on the man advantage and were an identical 0/2. Portage outshot the Nighthawks 52-30. The Terriers are now heading on the road on Friday to play the Winnipeg Monarchs, and then will be back at home on Sunday hosting the Selkirk Steelers.
