With only nine returning players in their lineup, the Portage Terriers may have expected a rough first half of the season. But their 20-9-0-0 record so far has shown that the team is once again competitive.
Defensive play has been a key to their success so far, with the pairings that can all be rolled out fairly comfortably.
Grant Dardis and Owen Witt have been staples on the blueline for the team, with very few games that they have spent apart. The pair is known as steady in their own end, despite their lack of size, and have been known to chip in offensively as well, with Witt scoring the team's first goal of the season up in Neepawa.
Dardis, from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, and Witt, from West Fargo, North Dakota, noted that previous to their first training camp in Portage, they had never met, let alone spoken.
Dardis outlines how it started.
"We had no relationship before this. Last year was our first time meeting, and yeah, we played a little bit there (at training camp), and it's just grown from there as d-partners."
The pair spoke to how their relationship on the ice has translated to the results.
"It's pretty cool. obviously, we're both from the States, so we both came up here, and honestly, around the locker room, we kinda keep to ourselves, we have our own groups, but it's funny because we have played almost every single game together and we gel perfectly on the ice."
"Through the time we've played together, each game, I think we've built a lot of chemistry there, where we know where we're both gonna be. We can make a quick breakout pass and just keep doing our jobs pretty well."
When asked how they have built the chemistry between them, they were both quick to say that practice is an important part of their success.
Witt led off by saying, "I think it starts with the basics. We've played with each other for so long now. I'm guessing at the start it wasn't as smooth as this so, over time, it just happened. I don't know how, but it really worked out."
Dardis adds, "I think reps in practice, as well. You pass to each other a lot, and you kind of find your partners tendencies, where he's going to be everywhere, and from there, you just build."
The duo has once again had a productive start to the season, with Witt manning the blueline for the first powerplay unit and Dardis manning the second. Both players will look to continue the recent roll with a win over the visiting Winkler Flyers on Friday, December 13. Puck drop is at 7:30 and coverage will be live on CFRY.