The Portage Terriers are gearing up for another MJHL season and are looking for a three-peat. There were many critics last season who felt the Terriers would be rebuilding and unable to surpass their record setting 2014-15 season where they went 53-3-4 and were RBC Cup champions. While they weren't quite able to match that success last year, they did set the team record for wins in a row (20) and were an impressive 52-6-2 en route to winning their second league title in a row. The Terriers went 12-1 in the playoffs and finished third at the Western Canada Cup in Estevan.

The Terriers were led last season by 20-year-old twins Brad and Shawn Bowles. Brad was named MJHL MVP, played all 60 games and lead the league in scoring with 102 points. Shawn played just 39

Shawn and Brad Bowles at last year's awards ceremonygames but scored at a similar pace to his brother notching 65 points. Secondary scoring was provided by Adam Wowrky (65), Nick Henry (61), and Chase Brakel (50). The back end was solid with Brett Orr putting up 42 points and being named the defenseman of the year. 18-year-old Portager Dean Stewart was beside him the whole way notching 22 and was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in Spring. In net Nathan Park was the rock the Terriers were looking for, posting a league leading 1.92 GAA, a .922 save percentage and a league leading 7 shutouts.

The Portage Terriers were able to take home almost all of the league awards last season,  including Blake Spiller winning the MJHL and CJHL coach of the year award. For the full list of team awards Click Here


The players stroked out who are not returning for 2016/17

S.Bowles    B.Bowles    Henry
Leipsic       Brakel       McDonald
Stanley      Sokoloski  Wowryk
Knaub       Hendrix      Mackey

Orr          Stewart
Weston    Haiskanen
Theissen  Stevenson

Park
Bykowski


Santin
Lightfoot

Last year's Terriers at their WCC Pep-Rally
Graduation
Brad and Shawn Bowles (U of M), Braydon MacDonald (Senior hockey in Stonewall), Michael Knaub (trying out for SPHL), Brock Weston (Marian University), Nathan Park (NAIT), Josh Bykowski (Minot State University).

Early University
Dean Stewart and Brett Orr have decided to leave the team early to head to University. Stewart will be playing for Nebraska-Omaha and Orr will be off to Bentley University.

Nick Henry and Dean Stewart have both moved on to bigger things

Higher level
After playing well for the Terriers this past season, defenseman Cody Haiskanen has been called up to his hometown team the Fargo Force of the USHL. Former Terrier Brendan Harms played for the Force in 2012-13. If Haiskanen does not stick with the team, he could be back in Portage this season.

Portager Nick Henry had considered playing in the NCAA but has decided to move on to the Western Hockey league. He signed with the Regina Pats. Click Here for details.

Trades
Turner Santin is heading back to his home province as he was traded during the offseason to the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL. Caleb Bowman and future considerations came back to the Terriers.

Ian Mackey and Garrett Kuklica were sent to Winkler in exchange for two prospects, Dylan Burton and Zachary Bennet. Click Here for details.

Kyle Wiltshire was an AP call up last season for the dogs but won't be back this season as he has been dealt to OCN for 18-year-old defenseman Nicholas Doyle. Click Here for details.

 


2016/17 Outlook

The Portage Terriers will be without their top players from last season, but will give more opportunity to their 9 returning players. (Chase Brakel, Adam Wowryk, Cody Lightfoot, Brandon Stanley, Ryan Sokoloski, Jeremey Leipsic, Riley Theissen, Kain Stevenson, Ryan Hendrix). The Terriers offense will rely heavily on the newly named captain Adam Wowryk. He joined the dogs last year in the first week of the regular season from Selkirk and had 21 goals and 36 assists as a Terrier. Chase Brakel who is penciled in as the top centre and the shifty winger Jeremey Leipsic will also be key up front. Riley Theissen is the only returning 20 year old defenseman, but will be joined by newly acquired Jordan Thomson who spent last season winning a WHL title in Brandon. The Terriers will have a fresh face in net as both of the goalies from last season have graduated. They will look to Brock Aiken and Wesley Ellingsen to hold down the fort.

Terrier Assistant coach Paul Harland is optimistic about the season. "We're looking like we are going to be competitive and I think we don't get a chance to see everyone (in pre-season), so we don't really know where are going to stack up."

He says his team will be ready to play. "A lot of guys came in pretty good shape, and we had a good training camp; they worked hard."


New Players to Watch

Ashton Clark (96, 6'2" 174 lbs forward ) - The Former Melfort Mustang played against Portage at the Western Canada Cup in Estevan last season, and is described as "an in your face kind of guy with some skill". He had 8 points last season in 39 games and 156 pim.

Ashton Clark's hat trick goal against Winnipeg this preseason 

Howard Yawit (96, 6'1" 185 lbs forward) - Making his way from Anchorage Alaska, the gritty forward is happy to be in Portage. The Terriers liked what they saw of him in Estevan last season with the Mustangs which is why they wanted him on the team. He had 7 points and 68 pim last season in 39 games.

 

Jordan Thomson (96, 5'11" 181 lbs defenseman) - A veteran presence and a winning pedigree is what the Terriers hope Thomson will bring to their club this season. He spent 4 years in the WHL with 4 different teams, and most recently won the WHL championship with the Brandon Wheatkings.

 

Thomas Lenchyshyn (97, 6'1" 205 lbs defenseman) - the 19 year old defenseman has spent time in Selkirk, Steinbach and Dauphin and was acquired from the Kings for future considerations back in June. The Steinbach product had 186 penalty minutes in 51 games last season and chipped in 10 points. The Terriers like his size and hope he can move the puck well.

 

Jared Roy (98, 5'10" 185 lbs forward) - Portage la Prairie's Roy hopes to make the jump to Junior this year from the Central Plains Capitals. Last season he had 39 points in 39 games and had 1 assist in a call up assignment with the Terriers. Assistant Coach Paul Harland says he is a gritty player who works hard every night and will get an opportunity to play.

 

Calvin Bliid (98, 5'9" 165 lbs forward) - Hailing from Calgary Alberta he is a good skater with quick side to side movement. He had 21 points in 34 games last season in midget.

 

Layne Toder (00, 5'11" 170 lbs defenseman) - The Portage Terriers continue to mine the talent from Elkhorn MB. Harland says Toder will have lots to learn to make the jump to junior as a 16 year old, but he sees the ice and moves the puck well. He could be in line for power play time. He had 9 points in 36 games last season.