The Portage Terriers are the first team to strike oil at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup (WCC).
The MJHL champion Terriers beat the SJHL best Melfort Mustangs 2-1 in the first game of the WCC at Affinity Place on Saturday afternoon. A crowd of 778 cheering Mustangs and Terriers fans took in the game spreading a sea of blue and green around the arena.
Terriers defenceman Brett Orr scored the game winner on the power play 2:42 into the second period. Orr's shot from the point went untouched through a screen in front of Mustangs goaltender Richard Palmer and beat him glove side.
Mustangs' regular season and playoff leading scorer Travis Mayan got that one back 55 seconds later on a deflection off a Terriers player that found it's way onto his stick at the top of the crease. Melfort had a chance to even up the score shortly afterwards on the power play, but couldn't generate any quality opportunities.
The Mustangs then ran into penalty trouble of their own in the final minutes of the second period, including a cross checking call on forward Kirk Bear at the 20-minute mark. After killing off the penalty to start the third, the Mustangs ran into a defensive wall put up by the Terriers and only managed three shots on the Portage net in the final period.
Terriers forward Nick Henry scored the first goal of the WCC 5:34 into the first period on a tip in front of Palmer's net that squeaked in five-hole. Palmer ended up making 29 saves in the game, while Terriers netminder Nathan Park stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced.
The Terriers will be back in action Sunday evening against the host Estevan Bruins, while the Mustangs won't head back onto the ice until Monday night for a tilt against the AJHL champion Brooks Bandits.
