Young Terrier fans left Stride Place happy on Saturday night for more than one reason. The Portage Terriers beat the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-2, and they also collected 300 stuffed animals for the Salvation Army’s Christmas hampers through the Teddy Bear Toss.
Excitement was high throughout the building in the first period with anxious fans holding their teddy bears ready to throw them over the glass at the first Terrier goal. The Wolverines somewhat spoiled the party when Ben Roulette found the back of the net midway through the first period. The game would stay close the rest of the period and remained 1-0 heading into the intermission.
Gabrielle Laflamme got the crowd on their feet and the bears in the air early in the second period. The puck came out from the corner and bounced off his shin and in on the power play. “It was a lucky goal, but it felt really nice to see the teddy bears on the ice,” says Laflamme. The Terriers celebrated the players’ families and billets during the game, and Laflamme had some family in attendance from Quebec. “It felt really good seeing my Grandpa and my dad. They are here tomorrow too so we hope to give them a good show.”
The Terriers kept things rolling throughout the second. Daniel Siso picked up his fifth goal of the season and newcomer Owen Underhill scored his fourth. 3-1 Terriers after 2.
Early in the third period Brenden Holba scored a hard working unassisted goal to make it 4-1 Terriers and put the game out of reach. The Wolverines would add one with three minutes left, but it would be too little too late.
Portage finished 1/6 on the power play and a perfect 3/3 on the penalty kill. Gavin Renwick stopped 18 shots for his seventh win of the season.
Before the game, the Terriers recognized captain Tayem Gislason as the MBLL player of the month for November. He had nine points in nine games.
The Terriers will play Steinbach on Sunday night at Stride Place. Puck drop is set for 6:30pm.
