You win some, you lose some

Neepawa Titans split weekend games with Portage Terriers

By Eoin Devereux Neepawa Banner & Press

When it comes to last weekend’s results for the Neepawa Titans and Portage Terriers, perhaps we can just chalk it all up to nerves, as both teams ruined the others’ regular season home opener.

First, the Terriers took advantage of Neepawa’s porous penalty kill, scoring four times with the man advantage. That powerplay dominance lead to a 5-2 Terriers’ win at the Yellowhead Centre on Saturday’s Sept. 20. Portage went 4-for-9 on the night, while the Titan’s were held scoreless on three separate chances. Neepawa scored a pair at full strength, with D.J. Meloney and Jack Clark claiming their first goals of the season.

Titans Head Coach and General Manager Ken Pearson said when it came to all those penalties, it was a case of opening night nerves.

“We were undisciplined.

Titans centre and team captain Cooper against the Portage Terriers on Saturday, Sept. 20. up, drop for both home games is at 7:30 p.m.

These were penalties that could have been avoided and when we were on the [penalty kill], we just didn’t execute the plan, like we practiced,” said Pearson.

The next night in Portage la Prairie, these two teams would met again, and it would be Neepawa would play spoiler, defeating the Terriers 5-3. On this night, the Titans played in a more focused manner and kept the penalties to a minimum. Portage was held scoreless on three power-play chances, while Neepawa scored once on one of their three opportunities. Logan Paquette scored twice, including the power-play marker, while Keenan Skrupa, Kyle Weisgarber and Jack Clark tallied the rest. Goaltender Alex Myers earned the win, his first in the MJHL, with a 35 save performance. Pearson said this effort on the road, was much more indicative of what this team should be this season.

“We made a few changes [on the line pairing] up front with the additions of Roan Michalchuk and Finn Brennan. Their level of compete and abrasiveness, on a line with Ryan Harris, was a good momentum changer. Our veterans, as well stepped up. Logan Paquette had a good night and just some of the other guys, they may not have shown up on the stat-line, but it was seen on the ice, and it impacted the game. They were more dialled in, more structured, and when we as a roster do that, I think we can compete with anyone,” noted Pearson. Next up for Neepawa was a home game versus the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Wednesday, Sept, 24 (Played just after the Banner & Press publication deadline) The Titans then have another home and home, this time against the Dauphin Kings. The first of these two will be at the Yellowhead Centre on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The next evening, these two teams will play again, this time at Dauphin Credit Union Place.