When people think about the Portage Terriers, many thoughts and memories may come to mind. The team has a history that goes back more than 80 years and they have been in the MJHL for more than 50. For almost all of those years, there was one common denominator, Trainer Geno Romanow.

Romanow joined the team in 1974 and was with them right up until his passing on May 8th of 2020. Last season, a tribute was planned to honour his memory but before it could happen, restrictions came into effect and the MJHL season was cancelled. The team hosted alumni night this weekend and the long awaited tribute finally took place. A special pre-game ceremony was held and Geno's Tunnel was unveiled before the game. It's the tunnel the team comes out of to start every game and it was said Geno will now always be there to look over the players. The only player on the current roster to play under Geno's watch, Logan Calder, helped with the unveiling.

A display box with memories of Geno as well as several alumni tributes were also unveiled on the Terrier Wall of Fame.

 

Portage Online caught up with some former players and members of the team this week to find out where they are now, how they remember their time with the team, and of course, thoughts on Geno. Listen to the full interviews below. 

Don MacGillvray - current head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Coached nearly 600 games with the Terriers in the late 90's and early 2000's. 



Brad McGinnis - 4 seasons with the Terriers in from 1986 to 1990. All time leading scorer with the team. Leading scorer on the 1989/90 squad that won the first ever MJHL Championship with Geno as part of the organization. 



J.P. Vigier - 4 seasons with the team in the mid-90's and went on to play more than 200 games in the NHL



Phil Letkeman - 4 seasons with the team from 2006-2010. Former captain and part of the back to back championship teams of 2008 and 2009, the final championship teams at the Cnetennial Arena.



Tanner Jago - Captain of the 2015 RBC National Championship Team


Brad Bowles
- 4 seasons with the team from 2012 to 2016, MVP of the 2015 RBC Cup