The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is starting to become a believer in the Portage Terriers.
The CJHL lists the top 20 teams throughout all of the junior leagues under their umbrella, including the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). This week, the Terriers are ranked 17th. This is the first time this season the squad has made the top 20.
Listed alongside the Terriers are two other MJHL teams, the Steinbach Pistons (6th) and the Dauphin Kings (12th).
Head Coach and General Manager Blake Spiller says consistency and solid goaltending have made the start of the 2024/25 season successful. While making the national rankings isn't the goal for this group, Spiller's hopeful the team can stay hot throughout the year.
"If you're in there it means your team is doing something right," notes Spiller. "It's only November. We always hope that when we get into March that we're we're ranked in that area as well."
Forward Cam Bullinger was named an honourable mention for the CJHL's three stars of the month for October. He scored eight goals and 12 assists throughout the month.
On top of the national honours, the MJHL has also listed the Terriers as first in the regional power rankings for the fourth consecutive week.
"Our veteran guys have really stepped up here and I think that was what we didn't have earlier in the year. It seemed to take them a little bit to get going and now they're playing really well."
The Terriers will look to continue their winning ways when they line up against the Northern Manitoba Blizzard on back to back nights, November 15 and 16.