Steinbach lose to host Terriers in second Centennial Cup game
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The Steinbach Pistons couldn’t overcome a terrible start, losing to the host Portage Terriers at the Centennial Cup, and dropping to 0-1-1 at the tournament.
Portage looked to be the fresher team early, as the team hadn’t played since their game seven defeat to Virden in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League semi-finals April 19. Steinbach had played the night before, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to the Collingwood Blues of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The Terriers offense came from an unlikely source.
Rory Neill, who played 43 games with the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League’s St James Canucks this season, scored two goals in the first period, jamming home two pucks past Steinbach starter Dominik Wasik.
Ian Amsbaugh had a chance to open the game’s scoring for Steinbach, but was denied on a breakaway in the opening moments.
Ty Paisley got the Pistons on the board in the second period, wristing a shot home after a clean faceoff win. From there, Steinbach put Portage starter Bailey Monteith under siege, but couldn’t reduce the lead, despite multiple scrambles with loose pucks in front of the net.
Paisley had a glorious chance to make the score 3-2, as he was left all alone in front after a Portage player lost their helmet and was forced to leave the ice, but Monteith held strong, making a nice blocker save. At the end of the period, Steinbach held a 37-21 edge on the shot clock.
Hensrud would eat into the lead 10 minutes into the third period, scoring a nice goal in transition to cut the deficit to one, but it would all be for naught after Kian Calder iced the game with a powerplay goal, blasting the puck past Wasik from the top of the faceoff circle.
Other results from day two at the Centennial Cup included the Ottawa Junior Senators defeating the Cobras de Terrebonne 2-1 in overtime, and the Timmins Rock beating the Yarmouth Mariners 3-2 in overtime.
Steinbach and Portage were the only two teams in action from their group May 12. Steinbach’s next game will have them taking on the Kam River Fighting Walleye May 14 at 7;30 p.m.