By James Shewaga /

The Portage Terriers are back in familiar territory once again.

The Terriers captured their second straight Manitoba Junior Hockey League title April 7, earning themselves a second straight meeting with the SJHL champion Humboldt Broncos in the ANAVET Cup Manitoba-Saskatchewan series.

After knocking off the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the quarter-finals and the Dauphin Kings in the semifinals, the Terriers beat the Selkirk Steelers 4-1 to clinch the MJHL championship.

Terriers head coach Blake Spiller got a complete team effort out of his squad, but two players in particular stood out for him in the MJHL final.

“We obviously got some big playoff performances from our goaltender, Bryan Mountain, and obviously (defenceman) Drew Ellement had 17 goals in 13 games, so things seemed to get on a roll and pucks went in for him,” 
said Spiller.

“But at the same time, I thought our whole group played real solid as a unit and our special teams were good ... I thought Selkirk really battled us hard and we have to really give them credit, but things seemed to work out in our favour.”

While the Steelers had strong offensive performances from the likes of Ellement on the back end and from forwards Brenden Walker, Eric Delong and Riley Nixdorf — all point-a-game players during the playoffs and in the regular season — they also received strong defensive efforts from the likes of checking centre Cory More on the road to capturing their second straight Turnbull Trophy as MJHL champs.

“It’s hard to win it, but it’s even harder to have a team two years in a row to win a championship,” said More. “Especially during the year, everyone is gunning for you.”

After a one-week break, the Terriers were preparing to battle the Broncos again in the ANAVET Cup, beginning on Fri., April 17 in Portage.

The Broncos swept the Terriers four straight in last year’s series on their way to capturing the Canadian Junior A hockey title in the Royal Bank Cup, and Portage was determined to get its revenge this time around.

“We know that they are a real good hockey club again this year,” said Spiller. “Obviously they were the best in Canada last year and this year I think we will be a little bit more prepared going in. At the same time, we know it’s going to be tough. But we’re just going to get ourselves ready and hopefully continue the way things have gone here and put our best foot forward.”

ICINGS
Portage Terriers forward Eric Delong was named the MJHL’s player of the year and will be the league’s nominee for Canadian Junior A player of the year ... Graduating Dauphin Kings goaltender Adrian Rubeniuk has signed a letter of intent to play NCAA Division 3 hockey for the State University of New York Geneseo Blue Knights next season ... The Beausejour Blades are looking for a new head coach following the resignation of Kurt Walsten.