Story Courtesy Jared Thiessen (Portageonline.com)
The Portage Terriers held off a late comeback from the Neepawa Titans on Wednesday night coming out with a 4-3 win at Stride Place.
Prior to the action, Parker Scherr was named the Terriers’ Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Player of the Month. He says getting that recognition is always nice.
“It was good. It was an award that I got last year, and it’s obviously a big honour. It shows a lot about my teammates because they contribute to all of my success, right? And it’s also just very flattering, and it’s an awesome award to get, because it shows that the team and coach think highly of me, so hopefully I can keep performing well.”
Portage started the game strong getting some early chances. A shot from the high slot bounced to where no one could see it, and after a couple of whacks, Nolan Nenow was able to put it past Neepawa netminder KC Couckuyt to open the scoring.
Caleb Lepitre would add his third of the season on his second breakaway in a short amount of time at the 13:02 mark. Lepitre out-waited Couckuyt and tucked the puck just inside the post to make it 2-0 Portage. That score would remain in place until the end of the first period.
Kyle Weisgarber would break the shutout bid for Terrier netminder Ryan Velan early in the second period as the puck took a couple of bounces in front of the net. Weisgarber would tuck one into the corner of the net to make it 2-1.
Koy Funk scored his eighth goal of the season minutes later, as what appeared to be a broken play turned into a positive. Jacob Michelson broke into the offensive zone, but the puck was knocked off his stick. From there, Adler Johnston followed up, passing to Funk who found room to put away the team’s third goal of the evening.
Nolan Nenow returned to the scoresheet with his second of the game on the powerplay. Cameron Bullinger put a pass into the middle for Decker Mujcin who hammered a shot toward the goal. The initial shot didn’t get through, but Nenow found the rebound and put it home.
Nenow adds that getting out of the scoring funk was a good feeling.
“Pretty good, finally found the back of the net so it feels good. It was tough going there for a while.”
4-1 Portage after 40 minutes.
Midway through the third Neepawa would add two goals in 13 seconds to make it a one-goal game. The Terriers clamped down with some good defensive work in the final ten minutes to win 4-3.
The Terriers are back in action in Waywayseecappo on Friday night. The game will be broadcast on CFRY with the Hi Tec Industries pregame show at 7:20pm.
