Portage Terriers

Dean Stewart has been across the Atlantic Ocean for several months, playing his hockey season with Vityaz Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. 

Stewart's first season in the KHL wrapped up with 52 games and 15 points to his credit, and he recently signed a contract extension to keep him in Moscow for another two seasons.

Among the major differences between playing in Canada and Russia, he notes, are the amount of help players get when it comes to adjusting to the new setting.

While over 100 young athletes were testing their skills against each other, a young Portager was taking in the camp from an unexpected role.

Koy Funk, a nominee for the MJHL's Rookie of the Year Award this season, was the on-ice official for all of the games on the Friday evening of the camp. Funk adds that being there with many guys he knows was quite the experience.

The Portage Terriers' season wrapped up nearly a month ago, and with the change of season comes the Dogs' annual spring rookie camp.

11 goalies, 30 defencemen, and 63 forwards made up the teams that took part in the camp, with 25 players having suited up in the Central Plains region over this past season.

The offseason commitments to play college hockey continue for the Terriers, with another player announcing his intent to go south of the border next season.

Ross has committed to the University of Jamestown in North Dakota, where he will join the Jimmies for a chance to compete for the ACHA Championship.

The Jimmies lost in the National Quarterfinal to Liberty University this past season.

Ross says the decision was a fairly easy one.

Grants are a huge part of helping organizations and schools in the area keep programs running. Fort la Reine School was just announced as the recipient of a grant involving a member of the Portage Terriers.

Principal Matt Harkness outlines who the grant came from and how much they will be receiving.

Excitement is building as the final draw for the Highway #1 Lotto 50/50 in support of the Portage Terriers and Virden Oil Capitals is set for today. With a goal of raising funds for Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams, this event is the first of its kind in the Central Plains area.

“We hope once we hit $100,000, that the pot will go even higher from there,” says Terrier marketing director Cody Buhler. “It’s going to be a really exciting finale to this fundraiser. The minimum take-home for the winner will be $50,000 and it could be more depending on the sales today.”

A pair of Portage Terriers have committed to play National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Hockey next fall at the same school.

The Portage Terriers’ season has come to an end as they fell 3-2 to the Dauphin Kings on Monday night. Dauphin takes the best of seven Turnbull Cup semi final 4-2 and will now move on to play the Northern Manitoba Blizzard in the final.

Students in Portage schools had a chance to meet some of their heroes and get more than just an autograph over the last several months, as members of the team immersed themselves in the community by working at the schools.

From veterans to rookies, with Terriers took part in various classes across multiple schools in the city. 

École Arthur Meighen had Tristan Gravenor and Adam Belzil working in their classes, as Belzil spent most of his time with the younger grades, and Gravenor worked largely with the Grade 8 class.

The Portage Terriers will look to extend their season tonight, by tying their second round series against the Dauphin Kings.

Portage won the last contest by a 3-0 score, with Mitchell Kathler recording his first shutout of the playoffs. 

Scoring leader Cam Bullinger led the way in the game with a pair of points, and the team will likely need more production from their top performers to knot up the series.

A win in tonight's game would see Game 7 go down at Stride Place on Wednesday, April 16 with puck drop at 7:30 p.m.