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Terriers Win ANAVET Cup

Story by Portage Online

The Portage Terriers are ANAVET Cup champions! They beat the Battlefords North Stars last night 7-3 to take the best of seven series 4-1. After losing game one Portage rattled off four straight wins to punch their ticket to the RBC Cup tournament in Brooks Alberta.

The game started with two quick chances in the first 30 seconds. Terrier goalie Nathan Moore made a great shoulder save and then Ocean Wiesblatt collected a nice pass from Reece Henry and went high glove on Joel Gryzybowski the other way. The Terriers added another goal 12 minutes later. A face-off win by Portage saw the puck come to Joey Moffatt in the slot and he fired home his first of the series. A four minute double minor went up on the board for Seth Summers. It would be the NorthStars that took advantage. Matthew Fletcher won a foot race and scored shorthanded. The Terriers restored their two goal lead seconds later. Orca Wiesblatt finished off a one timer at the side of the net.

Penalty trouble haunted Battlefords in the second period and the Terriers made them pay. Orca Wiesblatt scored on a power play wrap around. Joel Gryzybowski’s was pulled after letting in 4 goals on 16 shots. Jay Buchholz tipped home a point shot with the man advantage four minutes later to make it 5-1. Quintin Loon-Stewardson sniped home a response off the rush to get within three. Battlefords upped their pressure but Portage quelled the storm by scoring their sixth. Kolton Shindle notched his first of the series off of a drop pass from Henry.

With the game out of reach Chase Brakel snapped home an insurance marker on a two on one. A late goal from Brett Gammer couldn’t spark the North Stars enough to make a comeback. Moore made some key stops down the stretch and finished with 29. He hadn’t started since game one. Portage’s power play was a big part of the win going 3/5.

It’s the Terriers’ first ANAVET Cup since 2011 when they beat the LaRonge Ice Wolves. It’s the second for Blake Spiller and his coaching staff.