Portage celebrates the win over Battleford.
The Portage Terriers made their Western Canada Cup debut this afternoon in Penticton against the Battleford North Stars of the SJHL. Portage had a slow first 10 minutes as they were tentative feeling out the Saskatchewan Champs. Battleford was first to score at the 5:08 minute mark when Ben Allen found the back of the net with a snap shot from the top of the circle to beat Kurtis Chapman.
After the first period break, the Terriers fell in to a rhythm and started to get pucks to the net. The first frame would end with Battleford scoring the only goal and outshooting the dogs 13-7.
Portage came out in the second with confidence and energy and they were rewarded at 9:26 when Chase Brakel deflected a shot from Mackenzie Dwyer to tie the game at one. Mackenzie Dwyer would go on to score a goal of his own on the powerplay at 16:08 for a Terrier lead heading in to the intermission. The Terriers doubled up the North Stars on shots in the second with 14-7.
The third period mirrored the second with the Terriers taking advantage scoring 2 powerplay goals. Brakel scoring his second of the game on a lucky bounce that left their goalie out of position and Mackenzie Dwyer scoring his second of the game burying a rebound of the end boards.
Not ready to throw in the towel, Battleford fought back with two goals of their own in a span of 1:13 to come within one. They would pull their goalie with just under two minutes to play, but Ty Enns would slam the door shut with his fist of the tournament in the empty net with 9.8 seconds to go.
The Terriers pick up 3 points and Chapman gets his first win stopping 28 shots in the effort while Chase Brakel is named player of the game. Portage went 3 for 5 on the powerplay while Battleford was 0 for 3.
The Terriers next game is tomorrow night against the Chilliwack Chiefs, game time 9:00pm CST.