The Portage Terriers are the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association's Team of the Year for 2015.
The Terriers' impressive year saw them finish the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season with a staggering 53-3-4 record. They then would go undefeated through the playoffs at 12-0 to win the Turnbull Cup. A second place finish at the Western Canada Cup, falling 4-3 to the Penticton Vee's in overtime. Finishing the year with the National Junior A Championship, which they won right here in Portage la Prairie at the PCU Centre.
Terriers' GM and Head Coach Blake Spiller gives his favourite moment from last season.
"I think that definitely winning a championship in your home rink, it's pretty hard to beat that. I don't think you can top that. To put together a team like we said as a group for a while, and to have it all come together in your own rink, in front of your own fans, and everybody that's involved with our club."
The Terriers' Junior A Championship was the first for a Manitoba team in 40 years. Their current captain Brad Bowles talks about winning Team of the Year, and keeping in touch with the team.
"I think it's really special for our team. We had a good year last year, and it's nice to get rewarded like that and it's good look back on the year. It's nice to get. For the most part I think we talk mostly every week -- sometime -- we all have the same group chat so we still chat a lot."
Spiller adds a lot of people can take credit for this.
"The RBC is more your team, and the Team of the Year is more for your entire organization. You have to do some things right, and operate the right way too, and do things the right way. I think our board did a great job last year, so I think it was a reward for everybody involved."
The Terriers knocked off 4 other great Manitoba teams to win the award including World Junior Curling Champions Team Calvert, and the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL.
Check out some of the Terriers accolades from last season and a look at how the team looks now.
Wed, Apr 24, 7:00 AM
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