It was a year beyond everyone's expectations for the Portage Terriers as their season came to an end this past Sunday. The Terriers finished first in the MJHL with a record of 52-6-2 and first in the CJHL top 20 rankings. The team went 13-1 during the playoffs en route to their second Turnbull cup in a row. They set the franchise record with 20 wins in a row to close the season and won 31 games in a row including the playoffs. At the Western Canada Cup, they were third after the round robin, and made it to the second qualifying game before losing 2-1 to the Brooks Bandits. After returning from Estevan late on Sunday the team held their exit interviews on Monday and then disbanded to their respective communities. Terrier assistant captain Shawn Bowles knows they can be proud of their season.

"Obviously it's not how you want to end the year, but you have to look back. We are still MJHL champs and we are brothers and we are gonna walk together forever."

With only 4 players returning from last year (Brad Bowles, Shawn Bowles, Brett Orr, Dean Stewart), many fans weren't sure what to expect. Head coach and GM Blake Spiller gives a lot of credit for his team's success to their leadership.

"We started the year and we weren't sure what we were going to have. Our leaders were so good for us. I know there were a few new guys who came in and thought if the Bowles and Orr are going to work this hard then we better join in."

With all of the team success, there was also a lot of individual recognition.

Recycle Everywhere Player of the Week
Brad Bowles, Nick Henry, Shawn Bowles, Chase Brakel, Dean Stewart, Nathan Park, Jeremey Leipsic.

RBC Player of the Month
Brad Bowles - October, January
Shawn Bowles - February

Sherwood Defenseman of the Month
Brett Orr - November
Dean Stewart - March

MGEU Goaltender of the Month
Nathan Park - October, January

IBAM Rookie of the Month
Chase Brakel - December
Nick Henry - February, March

At MJHL year end awards:
Brad Bowles - League MVP, Top Scorer
Brett Orr - Top Defenseman
Nathan Park - Top Goaltender
Nick Henry - Rookie of the year
Blake Spiller - Coach of the year

MJHL 1st All Star Team:
Brad Bowles
Brett Orr
Nathan Park

Rookie All Star Team:
Nick Henry

Western Canada Cup Awards:
Brad Bowles - All Star team and Tournament MVP
Brett Orr - All Star team and Top defenseman

Dean Stewart and Brett Orr also achieved success with team West at the World Junior A challenge, winning gold medals.

Stewart is ranked by NHL central scouting and played in the CJHL prospects game.

The Terriers attracted attention from schools, resulting in scholarships.
Brett Orr - Bentley University
Dean Stewart - University of Nebraska Omaha

Chase Brakel was named to the 2016 CJHL All Academic All-Canadian champions team which includes a $500 scholarship. 10 CJHL players were selected for their academic excellence, and the three C's (Character, Community, Competition).

The Terriers see the following 20 year old players graduate: Brad Bowles, Shawn Bowles, Josh Bykowski, Michael Knaub, Braydon MacDonald, Nathan Park, Brock Weston.

Defenseman Brock Weston is sad to leave.

"Best organization I've ever been in: town, billets, coaching staff, support staff, everything. Best year of my junior career, I loved it there."


Here is the lineup from the final game.

S.Bowles      B.Bowles       Henry
Leipsic         Brakel          MacDonald
Stanley        Sokoloski      Wowryk
Santin          Hendrix        Mackey

Orr           Stewart
Weston     Haiskanen
Huston     Stevenson

Park
Bykowski


Out of the lineup
Knaub
Thiessen
Lightfoot