While the current iteration of the Terriers will be the main reason Portagers gather at Stride Place over the next two weeks, some former members of the squad will be recognized, as well.
The 1973 Centennial Cup winning team will be honoured during the first intermission of the Terriers game tomorrow night. Captain of the 1973 squad, Grant Farncombe, is excited to reunite with his old teammates.
"It's been a long time. There's a lot of great memories, and I'm sure there are a lot more memories we forgot," Farncombe explains. "We're really looking forward to it because I'm sure it'll be one of the last reunions for our group. A lot of us are getting to be 70 years of age, and it's getting tougher and tougher to get together."
He says they will only be missing one player and three staff members from that team. Everyone else will be in attendance on Friday for the 50th anniversary.
The 2015 Portage Terriers, the only other Terrier team to win it all, will also be recognized during this year's tournament. Team captain of the squad, Tanner Jago, says that the final celebration is something he'll never forget.
"I remember the huddle like it was yesterday. We all came in screaming. We all had the same look on our faces thinking, 'We actually did it.' I remember coming through on the fly-by to the bench and hearing everyone just screaming," Jago explains. "Stuff like that definitely sticks with you no matter how long it has been. Hopefully, the Terriers can do that again here."
The 2015 Centennial Cup Champions also hosted the tournament, and Jago says having the home crowd behind them was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He can't wait to see all his former teammates once again.
Both Farncombe and Jago encourage all the current Terriers to cherish these next two weeks as it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Portage Terriers will play their first game of the Centennial Cup tomorrow night at 7:30 against the Steinbach Pistons.