Former Portage Terriers Captain Adam Wowryk led the Winnipeg Blues to a 4-3 shootout win over the Terriers Sunday in Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) hockey at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie. He finished the night with two goals.

Portage looked strong in the first with 14 shots, three powerplay opportunities, and several great scoring chances but they still couldn't solve Blues netminder Adam Derochie. Dallas Tulik scored the only marker of the period with :31 seconds to go to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.

"I thought we had some opportunities (in the first) where there were some loose pucks that we just maybe didn't battle hard enough for," says Terriers' assistant coach Paul Harland. "It was kind of one of those back-and-forth games a little bit, and we didn't seem to have as much jump as we did in Dauphin the other night. Both teams seemed like we were feeling each other out and it wasn't an overly fast game by no means. We got up 3-2 and we should've been able to close it out."

The second period was a little more physical than the first 20 minutes. The Terriers tied the game 2:40 into the period when James McIsaac tapped home a wide open net pass from Jeremy Leipsic, after he drew both the goalie and the defender way out of the net.

"It felt good to get that one against my old team," says McIsaac, who finished with a goal in the game and the shootout. "It was a good game overall and if the bounces went our way a little more I feel we would've walked away with a win, but that's just how the game went."

Chase Brakel also picked up an assist on the play. Three minutes later the Terriers again lit the lamp. This time it was forward Ty Barnstable. He wristed one top corner from the slot after Ty Enns feathered a pass in from the boards. Josh Martin started the play in the neutral zone and also picked up an assist. The 2-1 lead wouldn't hold for long as Wowryk tied it with a powerplay goal at 12:12, his first of the night. Turner Santin took a hooking penalty toward the end of the second, so the Blues started the third with the extra attacker in the final 20.

A final period of exciting back-and-forth hockey ended up in a 3-3 tie. Chase Brakel gave the Terriers a 4-3 lead with 5-minutes to go in the third frame, and :40 seconds after that, Wowryk netted his second to even the game at 3. The Blues had a few chances on the powerplay in overtime but couldn't finish off the Dogs with the extra attacker so the teams set up for a shootout.

Chase Brakel shot first for the Terriers and couldn't get one passed Derochie. Blues forward Rhett Lough scored on their first attempt the other way. Terrier forward Ty Barnstable was next and hit the post on a backhand which sent the puck rolling through the blue paint, and Winnipeg recorded their second save of the shootout. Brock Aiken came up with a huge save on Wowryk to give the Terriers a shot at tying it up, and James McIsacc did just that with a great move to even the shootout at one. The Dogs needed a save to extend the shootout but Dexter Kuczek scored top corner to get the win for Winnipeg.

"We would've like to get the extra point here," adds Harland. "It's going to be a battle down the stretch here and every point is important. Again, we weren't as good as we were Friday night in Dauphin, and I think if we're skating and playing our game we have a chance to get two points against anyone. So if we can bring more energy on Wednesday I like our chances."

The two teams face off again in Portage Wednesday night at Stride Place.

Great Time In Cornwall

Terriers forward James McIsaac recently participated in the CJHL Prospects Game last week in Cornwall, Ontario.

"It really was awesome," remarks McIsaac on his experience. "I met some great people, had a great experience, and played some great hockey. Really nothing bad to say about the experience at all."

The 17-year-old has 49 points in 45 games, 24 goals and 24 assists. He did register a point in the game but says it was a huge opportunity. "You'd look in the stands and see all the scouts in the stands while you're playing. I'm sure it will help my hockey career down the road."