The MJHL has released four finalists for each of their six year-end awards, and two Portage Terriers could end the season with some hardware.
While no Terriers were nominated for league MVP, Portage's own Ryan Botterill is up for the Frank McKinnon Memorial Trophy. This award is based on sportsmanship and playing ability. Botterill is fifth in the MJHL in points with 61 and is second in goals with 38 this season. The Portager is the first Terrier to score over 35 goals since the 2015-16 season.
The Terriers' other hometown hero, and team captain, Kian Calder, is in the running for the Brian Kozak Memorial Award, which is given to the league's top defenceman. Calder is fifth in the MJHL in points by a defenceman with 39 and is also fifth on the Terriers in scoring. The 20-year-old already has six more points than he did last season with the Estevan Bruins.
Many members of the Dogs may have been overshadowed in the nominations due to their collective success as a team. The Terriers have the best record in the MJHL and have the most players in the league over 20 points with 14. The Dogs also lead the league in most players over 30 point mark with eight.
Calder, Botterill, and the rest of the Terriers won't be thinking too much about individual accolades tonight as they head to Winnipeg for a matchup with the Freeze.
A win tonight for Portage would make it nine in a row for them, and they are taking on a Freeze team that has just four wins in 52 games this season. These two teams will face off tonight at 6:00.