The Portage Terriers picked up their 5th win in a row last night in a 5-2 victory over the visiting OCN Blizzard. Ashton Clark got his team on the board first as he buried a loose puck at the side of the net 2:30 into the first period. Both teams started taking penalties, and at 4 on 4 Brady Valiquette got OCN on the board ripping a shot high glove off the rush on a screened Brock Aiken. Returning Terrier veteran Ryan Hendrix scored his first of the season with less than a minute to play to give Portage the 2-1 lead heading into the second period.

Terrier defenseman Jordan Thomson about to take a shot.

It would be all Portage in the second frame as they outshot OCN 15-9. Portage would get a power play goal from Chase Brakel who finished off a gorgeous no-look pass from Ty Enns. Brakel says he is starting to gel with his new teammate.

"I think we connected really well. Obviously I've been playing with Jeremey since the start of the year and we have really good chemistry and we find each other. When Enns was traded here he fit right in on our line. He has gotten in on most of our goals. We just have really good chemistry together."

The line of Ryan Hendrix, Ashton Clark, and Calvin Bliid looked strong throughout the night and would get the fourth Terrier goal of the game late in the second period. Clark felt his line was doing the little things right.

"We played well tonight in the defensive zone which helped us in the offensive zone. Getting pucks in and getting pucks out."

The Blizzard would draw within 2 in the third period when George King ripped a shot off the cross bar and in. Terrier forward Jeremey Leipsic put the game out of reach as he finished off a nice play from his linemates 2.5 minutes after the goal from OCN. Brock Aiken made some key saves when needed for Portage and picked up the 23 save win.

The Terriers improve to 7-1 on the season and sit 2 points back of Steinbach for first. Chase Brakel, Ty Enns, Jeremey Leipsic and Jordan Thomson are all currently on an 8 game point streak. Portage plays two more home games this weekend; Dauphin on Friday and Waywayseecappo on Saturday.

Captain Adam Wowryk