It has become a familiar tradition in the MJHL, when a new season begins, the Terriers enter as defending champions. The 2018-19 season was initially viewed as a rebuilding year for a Terrier squad that was preparing to host the 2020 National Championship tournament. The players in the room had other plans as they grabbed their fourth league title in five years and their first ANAVET Cup since 2011.
Portage had traded away a number of veteran players heading into the season with the expectation that more would be on their way out. Young players like Owen Murray, Reilly Funk, and Joey Moffatt stepped up early putting their team in contention. The Terriers kept veterans like Ty Barnstable, Braden Billaney, and re-added Scott Mickoski. The boost that put them over the top was the return of former captain Chase Brakel after Christmas. He came back to the team after starting the season at Cornell University.
The Terriers finished the regular season in first place, six points ahead of Swan Valley. They swept Waywayseecappo and Virden in the first two rounds. Swan Valley would be the biggest test in the final and pushed Portage to the limit. After falling 3-2 in the series, Portage beat the Stampeders 5-2 on the road in game six and then won 3-2 in overtime in game seven. Reece Henry played the hero scoring the Turnbull Cup-clinching goal on a partial breakaway.
The Battlefords North Stars were the next match-up for Portage in the ANAVET Cup. They made quick work of them. After losing the first game, the Dogs won four straight to close out the series. The magic ran out at the national championship in Brooks, Alberta. Portage lost all of their round-robin games and missed out on the playoffs.
Final Roster from 2018-19
Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Jay Buchholz Ty Barnstable Scott Mickoski
Joey Moffatt Chase Brakel Orca Wiesblatt
Kolton Shindle Ocean Wiesblatt Reece Henry
Braden Billaney Reilly Funk Jared Roy
Defense
Sam Huston Cody Thompson
Caelan McPhee Owen Murray
Lane Taylor Morgan Poirier
Sheldon Howard
Logan Calder
Peyton Gorski
Austin Clyne
Tyler Van Deynze
Goalies
Ethan Peterson
Nathan Moore
*The players stroked out are not returning
Graduation
The Terriers had six 20-year-old players who graduated from junior hockey: Ty Barnstable, Scott Mickoski, Chase Brakel, Braden Billaney, Jared Roy and Morgan Poirier.
Moving On
Orca Wiesblatt – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Reilly Funk – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Jay Buchholz – Minot (NAHL)
Trades
Ethan Peterson – He was sent to the Neepawa Natives along with the rights to Reilly Funk and Future Considerations for 19-year-old forward Mackenzie Belinski.
2019-20 Outlook
Optimism is high in Portage with a solid returning core and a crop of players that have been acquired via earlier trades. Hosting the Centennial Cup Championship brings a certain level of expectations to the Terrier squad. In fact, the CJHL Pre-season rankings have the Terriers at number one out of 132 teams.
"There are always outside distractions when you are hosting," says Terrier head coach and GM Blake Spiller, "but you have to keep reminding guys that it's a day to day thing of continually getting better." With the goal of a national championship firmly in sight, he hopes they get a good start and improve as the season moves along.
The Terriers have added a number of players to their roster including: Mackenzie Belinski, Cooper Witherspoon, Tyler Lees, Colby Wolter, Justin Giacomin, and Riley Bruce. Spiller knew quite a bit about the players before they joined the team and feels they have been fitting in well so far.
New Players to Watch
Mackenzie Belinski – (00, 5’10”, 181lbs) From Vista, Manitoba, the smooth-skating forward can provide an offensive punch. He led the Neepawa Natives in scoring last season with 48 points (21G 27A) in 58 games.
Riley Bruce – (99, 6’1”, 205lbs) A big physical presence from Winnipeg that is tough to play against. Bruce has the ability to play forward and defence and can use his WHL experience from the Tri-City Americans last season to help the younger players.
Austin Clyne – (01, 5’9”, 160lbs) The young defenceman from Boissevain played last season with the Southwest Cougars and put up 25 points (9G 16A) in 48 games. He skates well and has the potential to provide offense. He was called up at the end of last season by the Terriers and found his way into two playoff games.
Tyler Lees – (00, 5’11”, 168 lbs) Lees has spent the last two season in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, Victoria Royals and Swift Current Broncos.