Portage Terriers

The Portage Terriers were founded in 1932. Ten years later the Terriers won the Turnbull Cup as Manitoba junior champions and went on to defeat the Oshawa Generals to win the Memorial Cup. Their roster included Joe Bell, Gordon Bell, Billy Gooden, Lin Bend, Jack MacDonald, Wally Stefaniw, Bobby Love, Oliver "Bud" Ritchie, Bill Heindl Sr., Jack O'Reilly, Joe Ledoux, Lloyd Smith and Don Campbell.[1]

A shortage of players following World War II forced the Terriers to cease operations in 1947. The Portage Terriers would be reborn twenty years later as members of the new Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The CMJHL lasted only one season before it merged with the MJHL.[2] The Terriers became a Junior 'A' club following the reorganization of Canadian junior hockey in 1970. In 1972-73, the Terriers won the Anavet Cup as Manitoba-Saskatchewan champions and Abbott Cup as Western Canadian champions, and then defeated the Pembroke Lumber Kings to win the 1973 Centennial Cup.

The team endured some tough years following their Centennial Cup appearance and it was not until 1989 that the Terriers would recapture the league title. Since the mid-2000s, the Terriers have been one of the MJHL's most dominant franchises, a stretch that has included eight league championships, two ANAVET Cup titles, and three national championship appearances (2005, 2011, and 2015).

During the 2014-15 season, the Terriers set a new league record by posting a winning percentage of .917 during the regular season, after which they went undefeated through the playoffs to capture the Turnbull Cup.[3] The Terriers finished second at the Western Canada Cup and then moved on to host the 2015 Royal Bank Cup in Portage la Prairie, where they captured the national title with a victory over the Carleton Place Canadians in the championship game.[4] The Terriers repeated as MJHL champions the following two seasons.

The team and the city have been selected to host the 2020 Centennial Cup. This will mark the 50th season for the championship (previously known as the Royal Bank Cup), which was originally known as the Manitoba Centennial Cup.

The Terriers have played at Stride Place, formerly the Portage Credit Union Centre, since 2010. Prior to this, the Terriers played at the Portage Centennial Arena. The team's head coach and general manager is Blake Spiller, who has held the position since 2006. Spiller is the winningest coach in the team's history.[5]

The 1942 and 1972-73 Portage Terriers have been inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame under the team category.[1][6]

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Playoffs

Portage wins 2005 Anavet Cup

• 1971 Lost Quarter-final

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 1972 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Kenora Muskies 4-games-to-1

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1973 Won League, Won Man/Sask Championship, Won Abbott Cup, Won 1973 Centennial Cup

Portage Terriers defeated Kenora Muskies 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 3-games-to-2 and a default MAN/SASK CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated Penticton Broncos (BCJHL) 4-games-to-3 ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-1 CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

• 1974 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Brandon Travellers 4-games-to-2

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 1975 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1976 Lost Quarter-final

Brandon Travellers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1977 DNQ
• 1978 Lost Quarter-final

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1979 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-3

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1980 DNQ
• 1981 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1982 Lost Quarter-final

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1983 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1984 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1985 DNQ
• 1986 DNQ
• 1987 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1988 Lost Final

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1

Winnipeg South Blues defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1989 Lost Quarter-final

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 1990 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup

Portage Terriers defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1

Portage Terriers defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS

Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 1991 Lost Quarter-final

Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1992 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1

Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1993 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-none

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1994 Lost Quarter-final

Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1995 Lost Quarter-final

Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 1996 Lost Quarter-final

Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 1997 Lost Quarter-final

OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 1998 Lost Quarter-final

OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 1999 Lost Quarter-final

Winkler Flyers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 2000 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 2001 Lost Quarter-final

Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2002 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1

OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2003 Lost Semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-3

OCN Blizzard defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 2004 Lost Final

Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-2

Selkirk Steelers defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 2005 Won League, Won Anavet Cup, Lost in 2005 Royal Bank Cup round robin

Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) 4-games-to-2 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS

Fifth and eliminated in 2005 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3)

• 2006 Lost Quarter-final

Dauphin Kings defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 2007 Lost Quarter-final

Neepawa Natives defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2008 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup

Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-3

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Saints 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none

• 2009 Won League, Lost Anavet Cup

Portage Terriers defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2010 Lost Quarter-final

Swan Valley Stampeders defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-1

• 2011 Won League, Won Anavet Cup, Lost in 2011 Royal Bank Cup round robin

Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated La Ronge Ice Wolves 4-games-to-3 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS

Fifth and eliminated from 2011 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3)

• 2012 Won League, Lost in 2012 Royal Bank Cup round robin

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-0

Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Saints 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Humboldt Broncos defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

Fifth and eliminated from 2012 Royal Bank Cup round robin (1-3)

• 2013 Lost Quarter-final

Steinbach Pistons defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2014 Lost Quarter-final

Steinbach Pistons defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-3

• 2015 Won League, WCC Runner-up, Won Royal Bank Cup

Portage Terriers defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS

Second in the 2015 Western Canada Cup round robin (3-1)

Penticton Vees defeated Portage Terriers 4-3 in WCC final

Portage Terriers defeated Melfort Mustangs 4-2 in WCC runner-up game

First in the 2015 Royal Bank Cup round robin (3-1)

Portage Terriers defeated Melfort Mustangs 6-1 in semi-final

Portage Terriers defeated Carleton Place Canadians 5-2 in final ROYAL BANK CUP CHAMPIONS

• 2016 Won League, Lost in WCC runner-up game

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-none

Portage Terriers defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Fourth in the 2016 Western Canada Cup round robin (2-1-1)

Melfort Mustangs defeated Portage Terriers 3-2 in runner-up game

• 2017 Won League, Lost in WCC round robin

Portage Terriers defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-games-to-2

Portage Terriers defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-2 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Fifth and eliminated from 2017 Western Canada Cup round robin (1-3)

• 2018 Lost Quarter-final

Winnipeg Blues defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2

• 2019 Won League, Won Anavet Cup, Lost in 2019 National Junior A Championship round robin

Portage Terriers defeated Waywayseecappo Wolverines 4-games-to-0

Portage Terriers defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-games-to-0

Portage Terriers defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-3 MJHL CHAMPIONS

Portage Terriers defeated Battlefords North Stars 4-games-to-1 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS

Fifth and eliminated from 2019 National Junior A Championship round robin (0-4)

• 2020 Playoffs cancelled

Portage Terriers leading Dauphin Kings 2-games-to-1 when playoffs were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[7]

• Bryan Hextall
• Lin Bend
• Black Jack Stewart
• Junior Lessard
• J.P. Vigier
• Rick Blight
• Jason Kasdorf
• Dave McDonald
• Curt Ridley

• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba

• Terriers Webpage
• 1942 Portage Terriers at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• 1973 Portage Terriers at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame